Biden-Harris Administration Unveils New Measures to Combat Fentanyl and Synthetic Drugs

The Biden-Harris Administration continues to intensify its efforts against the devastating impact of synthetic drugs, particularly illicit fentanyl. This crisis, which affects communities across the United States, has prompted a comprehensive response from the administration, marking drug control as a core priority since Day One.

Recent Achievements

1. Increased Drug Seizures U.S. border officials have made significant strides in curbing the influx of illicit fentanyl. Over the past two fiscal years, more fentanyl has been seized at U.S. ports of entry than in the previous five years combined. In the past five months alone, authorities intercepted over 442 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. The administration is bolstering its investment in detection technology, with new inspection systems being deployed and more planned for the coming year.

2. Enhanced Naloxone Accessibility The administration has made naloxone, a critical medication for reversing opioid overdoses, widely available over the counter. Additionally, it has invested over $82 billion in treatment services, a 40 percent increase compared to the previous administration’s investment.

3. Executive Orders and Sanctions Since 2021, President Biden has issued an Executive Order targeting individuals and entities involved in the global drug trade. More than 300 persons and entities have been sanctioned, disrupting their access to the U.S. financial system and aiming to dismantle their operations.

New Initiatives

1. National Security Memorandum (NSM) President Biden is set to issue a National Security Memorandum that calls for heightened efforts across federal departments and agencies to combat the supply of synthetic opioids. The NSM emphasizes increased intelligence collection, enhanced coordination, and intensified actions to disrupt drug production and distribution.

2. "Detect and Defeat" Counter-Fentanyl Proposal The administration is urging Congress to pass the “Detect and Defeat” proposal. This initiative aims to:

• Improve tracking and targeting of small-dollar drug shipments at the border.

• Establish a nationwide registry for pill presses and tableting machines to monitor their use.

• Permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as "Schedule I" drugs, enforcing stricter penalties for their distribution and possession.

Ongoing Actions and Collaborations

1. Law Enforcement Efforts The Justice Department has successfully prosecuted high-level drug traffickers, including notable leaders from Mexican cartels and key figures involved in chemical trafficking.

2. International Cooperation In November 2023, President Biden secured renewed counternarcotics cooperation with China, enhancing collaborative efforts to disrupt synthetic drug production. The administration has also engaged globally, forming a Trilateral Fentanyl Committee with Mexico and Canada and launching a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, uniting over 150 countries.

3. Financial Disruption A new partnership in 2024 aims to disrupt drug traffickers' financial operations by sharing information among financial institutions, law enforcement, and national security agencies to cut off illicit drug trade financing.

Through these measures, the Biden-Harris Administration is addressing the opioid crisis with a multi-faceted approach, targeting both the supply of illicit drugs and their financial underpinnings, while fostering international cooperation and improving domestic treatment and prevention resources.