Homeless people are seen as the city fights with fentanyl problems in San Francisco, California, United States, on February 26, 2024. (Photo: CFP)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump recently announced on his Truth Social platform that negotiations with China over fentanyl and other drug-related issues had stalled. He accused China of failing to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States and vowed an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports on his first day in office, January 20.
While Trump's accusations are aimed at China, the reality is far more complex. Who is truly responsible for the U.S. drug epidemic? Is China to blame, or are the roots of the crisis closer to home?
Opioid abuse: a chronic issue in American society
With just five percent of the world's population, the United States consumes 80 percent of the world's opioid medications, making it the largest drug consumer market globally. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is legitimately used to manage severe pain under medical supervision. However, in the U.S., its low cost and ease of production have allowed it to infiltrate the illicit drug market, causing devastating societal harm.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "The U.S. has struggled to stop a relentless increase in drug overdose deaths." Data highlights the gravity of the crisis: in 1990, there were 8,400 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. Between 1999 and 2017, opioid overdoses claimed the lives of over 400,000 Americans.
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), revealed worsening drug abuse trends. Nearly nine million Americans misused opioids in 2023. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids, especially fentanyl, were responsible for approximately 81,000 deaths in 2023.
(Source: National Center for Health Statistics)
The U.S. fentanyl crisis: a domestic problem
Successive U.S. administrations have attempted to combat opioid addiction. Trump declared the opioid crisis a "Health Emergency," and President Biden included addiction recovery in his "Unity Agenda." However, The Atlantic noted that these efforts have had limited impact. Why?
The roots of the crisis date back to the late 20th century, driven by the misuse of prescription painkillers. A 2023 CGTN documentary, The Fight Against Fentanyl, featured interviews with Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a leading expert on opioid abuse. Both experts highlighted how pharmaceutical companies downplayed the addiction risks of opioids, promoting their use through deceptive marketing. Loosened prescription regulations 25 years ago, influenced by powerful lobbying groups, laid the foundation for today's addiction crisis.
Pharmaceutical companies have wielded significant influence over U.S. policymakers. A 2017 Guardian report revealed that these companies spent nearly 2.5 billion USD on lobbying and campaign contributions over a decade. Approximately 90 percent of members of Congress received donations from the pharmaceutical industry.
Political polarization further hampers efforts to address the crisis. In May 2023, the Republican-controlled House passed the "HALT Fentanyl Act," but 132 of the 133 opposing votes came from Democrats, illustrating the partisan divide.
Despite the growing toll, fentanyl has yet to be classified as a permanently controlled substance in the U.S. The DEA warns that illicit fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, resulting in counterfeit pills with lethal doses. The Atlantic argues that America's drug crisis stems from the intersection of political dysfunction, economic interests, and cultural factors, reflecting systemic governance challenges.
Scapegoating China isn't cure for America's fentanyl crisis
Blaming China for America's fentanyl crisis is both misleading and counterproductive. If Trump had engaged in meaningful talks with China on drug control, he would know that Beijing has implemented strict measures to combat fentanyl production and distribution.
China has long maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs. On May 1, 2019, it added all fentanyl-related substances to its list of controlled narcotics. By July 2023, China had regulated 38 precursor chemicals—far exceeding the 14 varieties listed by the United Nations.
China has actively cooperated with the U.S. to address drug issues. Since 2003, the two nations have held nine sessions of a bilateral drug control intelligence exchange mechanism.
However, U.S. sanctions have disrupted collaboration. In 2020, without evidence, the U.S. placed China's Ministry of Public Security Material Evidence Identification Center and other entities on its sanctions list. In 2021, President Biden's executive order targeted four Chinese companies and one individual allegedly linked to the global illicit drug trade.
As China and the international community tighten controls on fentanyl, the crisis in the U.S. continues to worsen. New York Times columnist Ioan Grillo noted that blaming foreign nations is a longstanding U.S. tactic, calling it "pure hypocrisy." Without addressing its own systemic issues, no external efforts can resolve America's drug epidemic.
Reporter | Liu Xiaodi, Wang Tianyu (intern), Wang Kai
Editor | Yuan Zixiang, Liu Lingzhi, Feng Huiting, James, Shen He
