In November 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a
public warning about such pills. The DEA reported that more than a quarter of pills seized across the nation in early 2019 contained traces of fentanyl.
“These aren t just people with opioid dependence who are dying,” Clarke said. “These are teenagers who think they re doing a Xanax and a beer, and they re not. And the thing with fentanyl is you don t get a second chance.”
Fentanyl’s Rise
Fentanyl wasn’t always as prevalent as it is now. It started to increase substantially in Florida after 2010.
Part of the reason for the rise in Fentanyl’s use is a hike in the cost of other opioids.