Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns in a USA Today editorial that the synthetic drug epidemic is a global crisis and that the U.S. should lead an international response.
"Criminal organizations trafficking drugs are extremely effective at finding and exploiting gaps in our interconnected world," Blinken wrote.
Nearly 110,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022, Blinken said, and over two-thirds of these deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
While the U.S. has been hit hard by the opioid crisis, Blinken said it affects every corner of the world. Countries in Africa are grappling with the misuse of tramadol, the Middle East with counterfeit Captagon pills, and Asia with ketamine and methamphetamine. Blinken said the crisis requires a global response that only U.S. leadership can adequately provide.
"The U.S. State Department is deploying the full force of our diplomatic power to ensure that the world is working together on coordinated strategies and practical solutions," Blinken wrote.
Last month, Blinken launched the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. Comprised of more than 95 countries, along with regional and international organizations, the coalition focuses on halting illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking, detecting emerging drugs, reducing drug use, and supporting recovery, the editorial said.
The coalition is already making progress, he said. Efforts include closer collaboration and information sharing with Mexico, from where over 80% of seized fentanyl enters the U.S. Blinken also said the U.S. is supporting Mexico with digital monitoring of chemical precursors to prevent their diversion for illicit use.
In a first-of-its-kind meeting, Blinken hosted the Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, convening more than 250 mayors and thousands of local leaders, he wrote. The aim was to share best practices for tackling not just the fentanyl epidemic but also other mutual challenges.
Blinken plans to reconvene coalition members during the United Nations General Assembly in September. "There are no quick solutions to ending this crisis—it will require sustained commitment and effort," he wrote.
