As fentanyl crisis evolves, experts say US is still ‘behind the eight ball’
Summary
In Dallas, Texas, addiction workers visit homes shortly after fentanyl overdoses to offer help and life-saving medication. While fentanyl overdose deaths had decreased nationally, recent cuts in addiction funding by the Trump administration and changes in the drug market have raised concerns about rising overdose deaths again.Key Facts
- Michael Watkins works for a nonprofit that visits people within 72 hours of a fentanyl overdose to provide resources and Narcan, a medication that can reverse overdoses.
- Dallas County saw 280 fentanyl deaths in 2023, up from 203 the previous year, even though the national trend had been declining.
- Dallas is a major hub for fentanyl smuggling due to its location near the US-Mexico border and road network.
- The Trump administration declared fentanyl a serious threat but cut hundreds of millions of dollars from addiction services and research programs.
- In January, $2 billion in grants for drug treatment were briefly canceled before being restored, creating confusion among providers.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lost half its staff under the current administration.
- At least $1.7 billion in state health block grants and $350 million for addiction prevention have been cut since late 2025.
- The fentanyl chemical supply is shifting from China to India, changing how the drug is produced and distributed.
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