Misguided tariffs will not solve the United States’ overdose crisis
The USA faces a severe overdose crisis driven by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, with overdose deaths rising sharply from 2001 to 2022. Proposed tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports aim to curb drug trafficking but risk undermining regional cooperation while failing to disrupt adaptable transnational drug supply networks.
Addressing the crisis requires a comprehensive public health approach, including expanded opioid treatment, increased naloxone access, regulated drug supply alternatives, and targeted interventions addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities, supported by international partnerships to enhance chemical regulation and law enforcement.
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