India Complicates the US Fentanyl Crisis

Peter Zeihan 4 min

The only real way to get fentanyl under control would be to address the consumption side of the equation. Addressing consumption is the solution because current supply-side strategies are flawed and ineffective.

Chapters

  1. 0:00

    The Shift in Fentanyl Precursors

    Explains how fentanyl precursors are now shifting from China to India, complicating US efforts.

  2. 2:03

    The Inefficiency of Current Strategies

    Describes why targeting production countries and border labs fails due to legal precursors and small shipments.

  3. 3:42

    The Flaw in American Drug Policy

    Argues that the only effective solution is addressing consumption rather than supply chains.

Key points

  • 0:00

    Fentanyl is synthetic and takes only a few man seconds to make a dose.

  • 0:00

    Precursor materials used for fentanyl are legal and have many industrial uses.

  • 0:00

    All intercepted fentanyl precursors could fit into 33 oil drums.

  • 0:00

    US strategy targets production countries instead of the shipping method.

  • 2:03

    India was not on the radar for drug production two years ago.

  • 2:03

    Squeezing one part of the supply chain causes it to pop up elsewhere legally.

  • 2:59

    One liter of finished fentanyl can create 50,000 to 100,000 doses.

  • 2:59

    Drug labs can be set up in Kansas just as easily as in Mexico.

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