Corruption in U.S. drug factories fuels flood of fentanyl美国药厂腐败芬太尼泛滥成灾
How Big Is America's Fentanyl Problem? Why is fentanyl popular in the United States?
The drug problem has always been a global problem, but the attitude of some countries (regions) on the drug problem is often surprising. For example, the legalization of marijuana in Canada has been subject to international controversy. Well, the United States, which is also an American country and is adjacent to Canada, the abuse of fentanyl-like substances has become a public health problem, and has even become a public hazard.
America Behind Fentanyl
According to Wikipedia, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller. It is suitable for analgesia after and during various pain and surgery, gynecological and other operations; it is also used to prevent or reduce delirium after surgery; it can also be used in combination with anesthetics as an adjuvant drug for anesthesia; it is compatible with droperidol It is used as a "stable analgesic" for large-scale dressing changes and analgesia for minor operations. The drug rehabilitation doctor said: Fentanyl drugs, also known as "planning drugs" or "laboratory drugs", are the third generation of drugs that are popular in the world after traditional drugs and synthetic drugs, and are also called new psychoactive substances.
Fentanyl was developed by Johnson & Johnson?
At the earliest, this drug was developed by Dr. Paul Janssen, the founder of the Belgian Janssen Pharmaceutical Company, which is well-known to the Chinese public.
Key node 1: In 1960, Dr. Paul Janssen improved on the basis of pethidine and synthesized fentanyl, an analgesic drug with stronger analgesic effect than morphine and fewer side effects.
Key node 2: In 1974, Dr. Paul Janssen synthesized Sufentanil.
Key node 3: Alfentanil was re-synthesized in 1976.
Key node four: Remifentanil was synthesized in 1990.
Drug rehabilitation experts emphasize: the common feature of these drugs is that every "progress" has a great improvement in pain relief effect compared with the previous one.
Fentanyl Abuse Can Be Deadly
The drug rehabilitation doctor said: Fentanyl was originally used for clinical analgesia and anesthesia of patients, but because it can activate opioid receptors (mainly μ1, μ2 and δ receptors) in the human body, it has euphoric and comfortable stimulation effect. The potency ratios of fentanyl, sufentanil and remifentanil are 1:12 and 1:1.2. Now, another derivative of fentanyl, carfentanil, is more potent, 100 times more potent than fentanyl, 5,000 times more potent than heroin, and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. As long as 0.02 grams, it is enough to kill an adult. Opioids (fentanyl is also one of them) are deadly, just like bright and beautiful mushrooms, the more colorful they are, the more toxic they are, and the faster they die.
Why is fentanyl addictive?
Drug rehabilitation experts say that the principle of action of fentanyl is similar to that of opioids, and it is an exogenous opioid substance. Opioids, also known as happy substances, produce analgesic, anesthesia and feelings of pleasure, euphoria and excitement by binding to opioid receptors in the body. However, when exogenous opiates such as fentanyl enter the human body, it will make the endogenous pleasure substances lose their competitiveness, causing people to rely heavily on exogenous pleasure substances and become addicted due to dependence. That is to form a reward system for spirit and feeling. This is actually a manifestation of matter conquering and controlling human beings in turn. When fentanyl is overdose, it starts with drowsiness, confusion, and nausea, followed by addiction, low blood pressure, and finally death from being too happy to breathe (respiratory depression).
Why is fentanyl popular in the United States?
The abuse of fentanyl-like substances has become a public health problem in the United States, and has even become a public hazard. Americans say that the key reason for the proliferation of fentanyl in the United States is that it is simple to synthesize, too many types, low in price, easy to transport, and powerful in effect. According to statistics, only 6 fentanyl-like substances were discovered between 2012 and 2015, but among the new psychoactive substances discovered in 2016, fentanyl-like substances increased to 66, becoming the fastest-growing opioid drug.
Americans speculate that because fentanyl is cheaper than heroin, and it is used in a small amount but takes effect very quickly, and it is easier to transport than heroin, it is likely to become the king of the new generation of drugs in the United States. Even U.S. President Trump has called the opioid crisis a "health emergency," a national shame, and a "human tragedy."
Fentanyl data in the US
The rise in drug overdoses and suicides in the United States is accelerating, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the two causes of death have combined to lead to a decline in American life expectancy for the second year in a row. Statistics show that the number of deaths due to drug overdose in the United States increased from 63,632 in 2016 to 70,237 in 2017, an increase of more than 10%, of which fentanyl accounted for about one-third of the deaths.
Huntington, in the northwest corner of West Virginia, on the border with Kentucky, has been dubbed the epicenter of the "opioid" crisis. On August 15, 2016, 28 local people died of an overdose of heroin containing fentanyl. The drug is used to treat severe pain but is increasingly being sold on the streets, often mixed with heroin or other drugs. The economic forces stimulating drug production here are powerful: it takes $5,000 to produce 1,000 grams of fentanyl, and the million pills sold at $20 each have a gain of $200,000. And drug use is not discriminated against in this area. Steve Williams, mayor of Huntington, West Virginia, said: "Our youngest drug user is only 12 years old, and the oldest is 77 years old." In 2015, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Ohio and other states had the highest proportion of drug deaths in the United States In several states, the death rate per 100,000 people is above 28, including 41.5 in West Virginia.
How to Avoid Fentanyl Addiction
In the drug rehabilitation hospital where the editor works, the main advice given by professional drug rehabilitation doctors to prevent fentanyl addiction is: use painkillers with caution, never use painkillers from informal channels, and explain the relevant medical history to the doctor in detail before taking medication. If fentanyl must be used as a last resort, it must be prescribed by a doctor to prevent abuse.
In fact, in recent years, Sino-US anti-drug cooperation has been going on, but the US always does one thing before others and another behind others.
According to the "International Drug Control Blue Book: International Drug Control Research Report (2020)", in 2003 China and the United States established a drug control cooperation intelligence exchange mechanism, and drug control cooperation has also become an important agenda for the first round of China-US law enforcement and cyber security dialogue in 2017.
In 2018, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang pointed out that at the China-US anti-drug intelligence exchange meeting held in October last year, China notified the US of more than 400 pieces of information on the purchase of fentanyl. China's law enforcement agencies are also actively investigating clues on the trafficking of fentanyl-like substances notified by the US and feeding them back to the US in a timely manner. Deploy all localities to strengthen the collection, analysis, research and judgment of suspicious samples, cooperate with customs and postal services to increase the investigation of suspicious postal parcels flowing to high-risk areas such as the United States at key ports, strengthen the supervision of the logistics delivery industry, and promptly detect and crack down on illegal activities.
In December 2017, under the careful organization and coordination of the Narcotics Control Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, and with the strong assistance and cooperation of Shanghai, Jiangsu and other provinces and cities, the Public Security Bureau of Xingtai City, Hebei Province mobilized more than 100 capable police officers. After more than three months of arduous investigation , traveled tens of thousands of kilometers, started with a phone number notified by the Guangzhou Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau of the US Department of Homeland Security, successfully cracked the case of smuggling fentanyl and other drugs, and seized 11.9 kilograms of fentanyl, alprazolam and other drugs 19.1 kg. This case is the first fentanyl smuggling case jointly successfully cracked by China and the United States.
In the anti-drug cooperation between China and the United States, China has made great efforts, but the US government has repeatedly forcibly blamed China in order to cover up its own ineffective supervision.
Former U.S. President Trump accused fentanyl and other opioids in 2018 as mainly coming from China. He tweeted: "It is outrageous that toxic synthetic heroin fentanyl is being poured into the United States through the postal system from China. We can, and must, let it end now! The Senate should pass the STOP bill to firmly end this. Drugs are killing our children and destroying our country. Can't wait any longer!"
The China Economic and Security Review Committee of the U.S. Congress issued a report in August 2021, claiming that the cooperation between the Chinese and U.S. authorities in dealing with the fentanyl issue was limited and that there were limitations. Operations and U.S.-requested inspections and law enforcement assistance have been less cooperative."
In December 2021, U.S. President Biden signed an executive order to impose sanctions on 25 entities and individuals in China and Latin America, including 4 Chinese companies, on the grounds of "suspected smuggling of fentanyl or related production materials into the United States." and 1 person.
In fact, in April 2019, China included fentanyl-like substances in the "Supplementary Catalog of Controlled Varieties of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances for Non-medical Use".
Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the National Narcotics Control Commission and anti-terrorism commissioner of the Ministry of Public Security, stated in August 2019 that there are 25 types of fentanyl-like substances listed in my country, exceeding the 21 kinds controlled by the United Nations. Our country is regarded as a drug, subject to strict control.
The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United States pointed out in September 2021 that despite China's great goodwill and sincerity, great efforts and sacrifices, some American politicians and media continue to hype that "American fentanyl mainly comes from China" and "Chinese fentanyl". Precursors flowing into the United States via Mexico" and other false content are completely irresponsible and contrary to objective facts.
As the country with the most prominent fentanyl problem in the world, the United States is also the largest producer and user of fentanyl-like drugs in the world, but it has not yet formally listed fentanyl-like substances. The reasons for this are worth pondering.
The spokesperson told the U.S. side that the root cause of the problem of fentanyl abuse lies in itself, and blaming others will not help solve the problem. The United States must not thank China for its support and help on the one hand, but on the other hand try to accuse and slander China and intensify negative hype. This is really a wrong way to set up obstacles to cooperation.
Fentanyl has been blamed in part for the dramatic decline in American life expectancy over the past three years. Just two milligrams of fentanyl -- the amount on the tip of a pencil -- is enough to kill. The animal tranquilizer xylazine is now fueling the crisis. It's often combined with fentanyl, with horrific effects that can lead to visceral "flesh-eating" abscesses, leaving addicts groggy with loss of muscle sensation.
According to a report on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website on the 2nd, Dr. Marta Sokolowska (Marta Sokolowska), deputy director of the Center for Substance Use and Behavioral Health at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, pointed out that the overdose crisis has already It has become one of the most devastating public health crises affecting the United States. More than 107,000 drug overdose deaths occurred during the 12-month period ending August 2022, according to provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Death toll surges in recent decade, affecting teens, babies
Fentanyl deaths in the U.S. surged in the 2010s, initially when 2,666 Americans died from fentanyl overdoses. By 2016, that number had soared to 19,413. The COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse, with a record 72,484 deaths in 2021. In 2021, there were 5,622 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in California — nearly 225 of them in teens as young as 15, official figures show.
The US news website Daily Caller reported on the 5th that the epidemic of fentanyl and other drugs is harming babies, both after birth and in the mother's womb, with fatal consequences in some cases , leading to difficulty in recovery in other cases. Babies exposed to narcotics can experience neonatal abstinence syndrome and severe withdrawal symptoms, experts say.
Potent drugs such as fentanyl pose a greater threat to America's youngest victims, many of whom do not survive, said Derek Maltz, former head of the DEA's special operations division. down. "Fentanyl has been the most destructive drug in U.S. history. In addition to causing record levels of death in children under the age of 14, unfortunately, infants are also being exposed to this toxic substance," Maltz said. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there is a diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome every 25 minutes in the United States.
Drug epidemic crisis spreads across US states
The numbers are staggering, but the statistics of drug overdose deaths don't quite convey the crisis America is suffering. From Washington to Massachusetts, Louisiana to Philadelphia, fentanyl and sedative user "zombies" have fallen on needle-strewn streets, laying bare the crisis afflicting the entire nation.
Washington state ranks third in the U.S. for illicit drug use, and narcotics like fentanyl appear to be spiraling out of control among the state's drug users. Drug overdose-related deaths in the state surpassed 2,000 in 2021, a staggering 66% increase from two years ago.
Last week, officials in Washington state made a shocking announcement: Morgues and crematoria have run out of space as drugs run rampant in local communities. In 2021, a Seattle court struck down a law that made possession of hard drugs, including cocaine, meth and heroin, a felony. Now, the crime is considered a misdemeanor — and social critics say it's a big reason for Seattle's current problems.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, xylazine, or the "tranquilizer," was found in more than 90 percent of fentanyl samples. It often creates wounds and abscesses, so much so that skin and soft-tissue injuries in Philadelphia emergency rooms have quadrupled in the past three years. The streets of Philadelphia are littered with orange needle covers that people throw away after injecting drugs, where drugs are used and passed on in full view. Accidental drug overdose deaths rose in Philadelphia, reaching record highs in 2021.
A man is completely in control after taking drugs on the streets of Philadelphia, USA.
Fentanyl has killed tens of thousands of Californians in recent years. Of the 5,622 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2021, nearly 225 were among teenagers as young as 15, according to official figures. In January, the Senate introduced a bill that would require all K-12 schools to provide the antidote naloxone on-site in the event of a fentanyl overdose at school.
Greater Sacramento, California, Placer County saw a 450% increase in fentanyl deaths between 2019 and 2021. In 2021, more than half of the related deaths will be under the age of 25. As a result, targeting schools with antidotes has become a priority for the state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the move as part of a $97 million spending budget to address the opioid and fentanyl crisis, saying, "This is a top priority."
London Breed, the mayor of San Francisco, California, said earlier this year: "Fentanyl continues to disrupt and destroy life in our city, and while the number of overdoses has declined, it remains far too high." Yet throughout California , the current law only imposes 2 to 4 years in county jail for those who possess fentanyl for the purpose of selling, while the suspects of trafficking fentanyl can be sentenced to up to 9 years in prison.
The number of annual seizures in the United States is enough to threaten the lives of all Americans
Just a few weeks ago, DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley revealed that overdoses and drug poisonings were occurring in children as young as 12 years old.
U.S. drug enforcement agents seized 379 million doses of potentially lethal fentanyl in 2022, enough to kill every American. The DEA said it seized 50.6 million counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder last year, which it said equated to "more than 379 million potentially lethal doses."
Because of its low price and relative ease of production, it has replaced prescription opioids and heroin in the illicit drug market. It was the leading cause of more than 107,000 overdose deaths in the United States from July 2021 to June 2022, according to official figures.
The deadly man-made opioid, which accounted for a fraction of overdose deaths a decade ago, is now the "deadliest drug threat" facing the United States, the DEA said.美国的芬太尼问题有多严重？芬太尼为什么会在美国流行？
毒品问题向来是全球问题，但是有的国家（地区）在毒品问题上的态度往往令人大跌眼镜，比如加拿大的大麻合法化问题就饱受国际争议。那么同样是美洲国家，并且比邻加拿大的美国，芬太尼类物质的滥用已经成了一个公共卫生问题，甚至已经成了一个公害。
芬太尼背后的美国
据百科资料，芬太尼，是一种人工合成的阿片类止痛药物。适用于各种疼痛及外科、妇科等手术后和手术过程中的镇痛；也用于防止或减轻手术后出现的谵妄；还可与麻醉药合用，作为麻醉辅助用药；与氟哌利多配伍制成“安定镇痛剂”，用于大面积换药及进行小手术的镇痛。 戒毒医生说：芬太尼类药又称“策划药”或“实验室毒品”，是继传统毒品、合成毒品后全球流行的第三代毒品，也称新精神活性物质。
芬太尼是“强生”研发的？
最早，这一药物是由中国公众熟知的美国强生所属的比利时杨森制药公司创始人保罗·杨森博士所研发的。
关键节点一：1960年，保罗·杨森博士在哌替啶的基础上进行改进，合成了比吗啡镇痛效果更强，副作用更小的镇痛药芬太尼。
关键节点二：1974年，保罗·杨森博士又合成舒芬太尼（Sufentanil）。
关键节点三：1976年再合成阿芬太尼（Alfentanil）。
关键节点四：1990年又合成瑞芬太尼（Remifentanil）。
戒毒专家强调：这些药物的共同特点是每一次“进步”，在止痛效果上都比前一次有极大改善。
滥用芬太尼可以致命
戒毒医生说：芬太尼本来是用于临床对病人的镇痛和麻醉，但是由于其可以激活人体内的阿片受体（主要是μ1、μ2和δ受体），而具有欣快和舒适刺激作用。芬太尼与舒芬太尼、瑞芬太尼的效价比为1:12和1:1.2。现在，芬太尼的另一种衍生物卡芬太尼（carfentanil）更强效，药效是芬太尼的100倍，海洛因的5000倍，吗啡的10000倍。只要0.02克，就足以使一名成年人毙命。阿片类物质（芬太尼也是其中一种）的致命，就像鲜艳美丽的蘑菇，外表越光彩美艳，毒性越强，致死越快。
芬太尼为什么会成瘾？
戒毒专家说，芬太尼的作用原理和阿片类药物是相似的，是一种外源性阿片类物质。阿片又称快乐物质，其通过与体内的阿片类受体结合，产生镇痛、麻醉和使人愉悦、欣快及兴奋的感觉。但是，当外源性的阿片物质如芬太尼进入人体时，就会让内源性快乐物质失去竞争力，导致人们会大量地依赖外源性快乐物质，并且因依赖而成瘾。也就是形成了一种对精神和感觉的奖赏系统。这其实就是物质反过来征服和控制人类的一种表现。当芬太尼过量时，首先会让人嗜睡、困惑和恶心，此后是上瘾、低血压，最后是因为快乐得难以呼吸（呼吸抑制）而死亡。
芬太尼为什么会在美国流行？
芬太尼类物质滥用在美国已经成了一个公共卫生问题，甚至已经成了一个公害。美国人说芬太尼在美国泛滥的关键原因是合成简单、种类太多、价格低廉、便于运输、效果强大。统计发现，2012至2015年间总计仅发现6种芬太尼类物质，但2016年发现的新精神活性物质中，芬太尼类物质就增加到了66种，成为增长最快最多的阿片类药物。
美国人推测说，因为芬太尼价格比海洛因低，而且用量小但见效极快，比海洛因更容易运输等特点，因此很有可能在美国成为新一代的毒品之王。就连美国总统特朗普已经把阿片类药物危机称为“健康紧急状态”“国耻”和“人类悲剧”。
美国的芬太尼数据
根据美国疾病预防控制中心（CDC）的统计，美国吸食药物过量人数和自杀数量正加速上升，这两种死亡原因共同导致美国人的预期寿命连续第二年下降。统计表明，美国因药物过量死亡的人数从2016年的63632人增加到2017年的70237人，增幅超过10%，其中芬太尼的致死约占三分之一。
位于西弗吉尼亚西北角的亨廷顿，与肯塔基州接壤，这里被称为“阿片类药物”的危机中心。2016年8月15日，当地有28人因过量吸食含有芬太尼的海洛因而死亡。药物用于治疗严重疼痛，但是正日益沦为街头贩卖的毒品，常常被与海洛因或其他毒品混合使用。这里刺激毒品生产的经济力量非常强大：生产1000克芬太尼需要5000美元，这一百万片芬太尼以每片20美元出售就有20万美元的增益。而且吸毒在这个地区并不受歧视。西弗吉尼亚州的亨廷顿市市长Steve Williams说：“我们最年轻的吸毒者仅12岁，最老为77岁。”2015年，西弗吉尼亚、新罕布什尔、肯塔基、俄亥俄等州是美国毒品致死比例最高的几个州，每10万人死亡率都在28人以上，其中西弗吉尼亚州达到41.5人。
如何避免芬太尼成瘾
小编所在的戒毒医院，专业戒毒医生给出的预防芬太尼成瘾的主要建议是：慎用止痛药，绝不使用非正规渠道的止痛药物，在用药前要对医生详细说明相关病史。如果万不得已必须使用芬太尼，必须遵医嘱，杜绝滥用。
事实上，近年来，中美禁毒合作一直在进行，然而美方却总是人前一套、人后一套。
据《国际禁毒蓝皮书：国际禁毒研究报告（2020）》显示，2003年中美建立禁毒合作情报交流会机制，禁毒合作也成为2017年首轮中美执法及网络安全对话的重要议程。
2018年外交部发言人耿爽曾指出，在去年10月举行的中美禁毒情报交流会上，中方将400余条寻购芬太尼的情报通报给了美方。对美方通报的贩卖芬太尼类物质的线索，中国的执法机关也都积极核查，并及时地反馈给美方。部署各地加强对可疑样品的收集分析研判，会同海关、邮政在重点口岸加大对流向美国等高风险地区可疑邮包的查缉，加强对物流寄递业的监管，及时发现打击非法活动。
2017年12月，在公安部禁毒局的精心组织协调下，在上海、江苏等省市的大力协助配合下，河北省邢台市公安局抽调百余名精干警力，经过3个多月的艰苦侦查，辗转行程上万公里，从美国国土安全部移民海关执法局驻广州办公室通报的一个电话号码入手，成功破获走私芬太尼等毒品案，缴获芬太尼11.9公斤、阿普唑仑等其他毒品19.1公斤。此案是中美两国联合成功破获的第一起芬太尼走私案件。
在中美两国的禁毒合作中，中国付出巨大努力，但美政府为掩盖自身监管不力，多次强行甩锅中国。
美国前总统特朗普2018年曾指责芬太尼等阿片类物质主要来自中国。他发推称：“令人愤慨的是，有毒合成海洛因芬太尼正通过邮政系统从中国涌入美国。我们可以，而且必须，现在就让它结束！参议院应该通过STOP法案，坚决终止这一毒品杀害我们的孩子，摧毁我们的国家。不能再拖了！”
美国国会中国经济与安全审查委员会2021年8月曾发布报告，声称中美当局在芬太尼问题的处理上合作不力，存在局限性，称“中国政府与美国当局在刑事和洗钱调查、开展联合行动以及美国要求的检查和执法援助方面合作较少”。
2021年12月，美国总统拜登又签署行政令以“涉嫌向美国走私芬太尼或相关生产原料”为由，对位于中国和拉美的25个实体和个人实施制裁，其中包括中国4家企业和1名个人。
实际上，中国在2019年4月已将芬太尼类物质列入《非药用类麻醉药品和精神药品管制品种增补目录》。
国家禁毒委副主任、公安部反恐专员刘跃进2019年8月表示，我国列管的芬太尼类物质品种达25种，超过联合国规定管制的21种，这意味着所有芬太尼类物质在我国均被视为毒品，受到严格管制。
中国驻美国大使馆发言人2021年9月指出，尽管中方拿出巨大善意和诚意、付出巨大努力和牺牲，个别美国政客和媒体仍不断炒作“美国芬太尼主要来自中国”“中国芬太尼前体经墨西哥向美国流入”等不实内容，完全是不负责任和违背客观事实的。
美国作为全球芬太尼问题最为突出的国家，也是全球芬太尼类药品最大的生产国和使用国，却至今仍未正式整类列管芬太尼类物质，其中原因值得大家深思。
发言人正告美方，美芬太尼滥用问题根源在自身，嫁祸于人无益于问题的解决。美方绝不能一方面感谢中方支持与帮助，另一方面又企图指责污蔑中方，变本加厉负面炒作，这实属设置合作障碍的错误做法。
芬太尼被认为是美国人过去三年预期寿命急剧下降的部分原因。仅仅两毫克的芬太尼——铅笔尖上的量——就足以致命。动物镇静剂甲苯噻嗪现在正在加剧危机。它经常与芬太尼结合使用，可怕的效果会导致内脏“食肉”脓肿，成瘾者会因为肌肉失去知觉而昏昏沉沉。
据美国食品及药物管理局（FDA）网站2日报道，美国药物评价与研究中心物质使用和行为健康中心副主任玛尔塔·索科沃夫斯卡（Marta Sokolowska）博士指出，用药过量危机已成为影响美国最具破坏性的公共卫生危机之一。美国疾病控制和预防中心（CDC）的临时数据显示，在截至2022年8月的12个月期间，发生了超过10.7万起药物过量死亡。
近十年死亡人数激增 波及青少年及婴儿
美国芬太尼致死人数在2010年代激增，起初有2666名美国人死于芬太尼过量。到2016年，这一数字飙升至19413人。新冠疫情使情况变得更糟，2021年有创纪录的72484人死亡。官方数据显示，2021年，加州有5622起与芬太尼有关的过量死亡事件——其中近225例是仅15岁的青少年。
另据美国新闻网站 “每日传讯”（Daily Caller）5日报道，芬太尼和其他毒品的流行正在伤害婴儿，无论是在出生后还是在母亲子宫内，在某些情况下导致致命的后果，在另一些情况下导致康复困难。专家称，接触麻醉品的婴儿会出现新生儿戒断综合征和严重的戒断症状。
美国缉毒局（DEA）特种行动部门前负责人德里克·马尔茨（Derek Maltz）表示，芬太尼等强效药物对美国最年轻的受害者构成了更大的威胁，许多人都未能幸存下来。"芬太尼一直是美国历史上最具破坏性的毒品。马尔茨说：“除了导致14岁以下儿童死亡的创纪录水平外，不幸的是，婴儿也接触到这种有毒物质。” 据美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）发表的一项研究，美国每25分钟就有一例新生儿戒断综合征的诊断。
毒品泛滥危机遍布全美各州
这些数字令人震惊，但药物过量死亡的统计数据并不能完全传达美国正在遭受的危机。从华盛顿到马萨诸塞州，从路易斯安那州到费城，芬太尼和镇静剂使用者“僵尸”们倒在了针头散落的街道上，暴露了美国整个国家遭受的危机。
华盛顿州在美国非法药物使用方面排第三，而芬太尼等麻醉品对该州吸毒者的控制似乎正在失控。2021年，该州与药物过量有关的死亡人数超过了2000人，与两年前相比，惊人地增长了66%。
就在上周，华盛顿州的官员宣布了一个令人震惊的消息：随着毒品在当地社区肆虐，停尸房和火葬场的空间已经用尽。2021年，西雅图法院废除了一项将持有包括可卡因、冰毒和海洛因在内的硬毒品定为重罪的法律。现在，这项犯罪行为被认定为轻罪——社会评论家认为这是西雅图当前问题的一个重要原因。
在宾夕法尼亚州费城，90%以上的芬太尼样本中都发现了甲苯噻嗪或“镇静剂”。它通常会造成伤口和脓肿，以至于费城急诊室的皮肤和软组织损伤在过去三年中增加了四倍。在费城街道上到处都是人们在注射毒品后丢弃的橙色针盖，毒品在这里是在众目睽睽之下公开使用和传递的。费城的意外药物过量死亡人数增加，在2021年达到历史最高水平。
近年来，芬太尼已经杀死了成千上万的加州人。根据官方数据，2021年有5622起与芬太尼有关的过量死亡事件，其中近225起是年仅15岁的青少年。今年1月，参议院提出一项法案，要求所有K-12学校在学校发生芬太尼过量时现场提供解毒剂纳洛酮。
加州大萨克拉门托普莱塞县在2019年至2021年期间芬太尼死亡人数增加了450%。在2021年，相关死者有一半以上年龄在25岁以下。因此，针对学校提供解毒剂已成为加州的一个优先事项。加州州长加文·纽森（Gavin Newsom）宣布，此举是作为解决阿片类药物和芬太尼危机的9700万美元支出预算的一部分，他说：“这是当务之急。”
加州旧金山市市长伦敦·布里德（London Breed）今年年初表示:“芬太尼继续破坏和摧毁我们城市的生活，虽然过量服用的数量已经下降，但仍然太高了。” 然而在整个加州，现行法律只对以销售为目的持有芬太尼的人处以2至4年的县监狱监禁，而贩卖芬太尼的嫌疑人最高可被判处9年监禁。
美国年查获数量足以威胁全体美国人生命
就在几周前，美国缉毒局特别探员布拉德·拜利（Brad Byerley）透露，在年仅12岁的儿童中出现了吸毒过量和药物中毒现象。
美国缉毒人员在2022年查获了3.79亿剂可能致命的芬太尼，数量足以杀死每个美国人。美国缉毒局表示，去年一年共缴获5060万颗掺有芬太尼和1万磅芬太尼粉的假处方药，称这相当于“超过3.79亿剂潜在致命的剂量”。
由于其价格低廉，生产相对容易，它在非法毒品市场上已经取代了处方阿片类药物和海洛因。根据官方数据，从2021年7月到2022年6月，它成为美国超过10.7万例过量死亡的主要原因。
美国缉毒局说，这种致命的人造阿片类药物在十年前导致的过量死亡病例中只占一小部分，现在是美国面临的“最致命的毒品威胁”。
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