by William Ihlenfeld
West Virginia has long struggled with addiction, and the tremendous harm suffered by its people is well documented. But just when we thought that the worst was behind us, a new substance surfaced that’s more dangerous than any drug to come before it. The synthetic opioid fentanyl is so deadly that it makes heroin look tame, so powerful that it can stop an elephant and so profitable that Mexican drug cartels are producing it in mass quantities for sale in the United States. While law enforcement agencies here are mounting an aggressive response, the rest of us must pitch in if we hope to overcome this lethal threat.
The introduction of fentanyl into the supply chain has changed the way that drug cartels operate. One difference that is especially concerning is the emergence of counterfeit pills made to look like brand-name drugs — such as OxyContin, Adderall or Xanax — but that instead contain fentanyl. The cartels know that most people prefer taking a pill to injecting or snorting drugs, and so they are ramping up production of the fake tablets. The lack of quality control and imprecise dosing makes their use particularly dangerous.
Combining other drugs with fentanyl has also become commonplace. For example, recreational cocaine users are now unknowingly buying coke that’s cut with fentanyl. Consequently, these part-time users are at a greater risk of addiction and overdosing, a lesson recently learned by a group of West Point cadets on spring break. Dealers don’t want their customers to die, but they do want them to spend more money. Adding fentanyl to drugs such as cocaine can cause a once-a-month customer to come around once a week and turn occasional users into full-blown addicts.
The quantity of drugs that cartels now produce is much greater than ever before. The process no longer requires growing poppy plants outdoors and has shifted indoors to laboratories where the production amounts are unlimited. This means that the cartels can send large amounts of fentanyl to the United States and not be concerned if some of it gets seized because they’ll just make more.
The way drug sales take place also has changed. Deals were once made by calls or unencrypted texts and then done hand-to-hand. While this still happens, many dealers have moved to the dark web or social media to sell their product and then have it delivered by courier or package. Platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat are being used for marketing. Communications are now more likely to take place on encrypted systems that are difficult for law enforcement to monitor.
Experimentation comes with much greater risk than ever before. In the past when adolescents tried potentially dangerous substances, the threat of harm wasn’t as great because the drugs weren’t as dangerous. But the emergence of fentanyl has changed the game. One pill can kill. The era of being able to experiment and live to tell about it may not be gone, but the risks have increased substantially.
In response to the threat, local, state and federal agencies in West Virginia have made the interdiction of fentanyl a top priority. Road patrol officers are stopping cars and trucks known to be carrying the substance. K-9 officers and their handlers are detecting and intercepting parcels containing fentanyl. Task forces are working long hours to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and using search warrants to seize the deadly drug.
But despite the tremendous efforts of law enforcement, fentanyl will still reach the streets of West Virginia. This is why community education and engagement are so important. Parents must talk to their children; schools must educate students; pastors must enlighten congregants; and neighbors must help neighbors. All of us must support, embrace and encourage those in treatment and recovery.
The challenge we face is great, and the path forward won’t be easy. However, by combining the strength of our law enforcement with our already resilient and caring communities, West Virginians can overcome the threat posed by this deadly drug.
