Opinion: Overdoses are dropping but the threat of fentanyl looms

Data published by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics showed the first decrease in U.S. drug overdose deaths since 2018. While headlines are celebrating the news, the devil is in the details. And in this instance, the devil has a name — fentanyl.

Although overdose rates decreased, the percentage of deaths from highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and its analogs remain unchanged.

Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.