In May 2024 the Drug Enforcement Administration issued its annual strategic assessment of illicit drug threats and trafficking trends.
“The shift from plant-based drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to synthetic, chemical-based drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine, has resulted in the most dangerous and deadly drug crisis the United States has ever faced,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.
The war against drugs has continued to rage on like a decades-long cat-and-mouse game, but the shift from plant-based drugs to cheaper-to-produce synthetics brings new challenges.
First is the proliferation of counterfeit pills that can trap purchasers thinking they are buying licit versions of lab-produced pharmaceuticals when, in fact, these illicit narcotics may be laced with fatal doses of fentanyl or other substances. Another challenge is keeping up with emerging drugs and identifying various substances added to bulk up the volume without increasing the measure of the “pure” substance, or to enhance or extend the effects of the primary drug, like fentanyl.
While drug trafficking organizations continue to expand their markets, tools like handheld narcotics analyzers are also helping law enforcement make a presumptive identification in the field – without exposing themselves to harm – and bringing low-level dealers into custody sooner, leading to stronger evidence and faster case resolution.
Download the eBook to learn:
- How counterfeit pills turn common medications into minefields.
- What novel substances in counterfeit pills are making narcotics even more lethal.
- How a Massachusetts town found the right tools to drive its war against fentanyl.
Fill out the adjacent form to download your copy today!