Fentanyl Crisis Domestic and Foreign Policy Measures in the USA

The article is devoted to the features of the third wave of the opioid crisis in the USA, which began in 2013 and reached its peak during the presidency of Joe Biden. The new opioid crisis is primarily associated with the synthetic drug fentanyl, which has a number of features that have led to its rapid popularization. It is characterized by low production costs and, as a result, a low price for buyers. Fentanyl is a potent drug, and a fatal overdose is possible with just 2 mg. The article pays special attention to how the immigration crisis that flared up under Biden contributed to the increase in the flow of fentanyl into the United States. The authors analyze the main measures taken by Obama, Trump and Biden administrations to counter the opioid crisis. Biden’s drug policy has faced serious criticism from Republicans due to the fact that the two parties rely on different approaches in attempts to solve this problem in the USA. While Democrats focus on improving access to quality treatment for drug addicts, Republicans believe that without tightening immigration policy significantly, it is impossible to successfully solve this problem. In addition to that, the authors show the role of China and Mexico in the opioid crisis in the USA. Despite the fact that the PRC authorities have banned the production of fentanyl, Chinese pharmaceutical companies continue to supply Mexico with precursors – chemicals necessary for the production of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In turn, the Mexican authorities have refrained from pursuing a tough policy towards drug cartels and any active actions with the Biden administration in this area. Finally, the article draws special attention to the factor of Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, which will lead to increased pressure from the American side on its foreign partners to make greater efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.