The proportion of US overdose deaths involving both fentanyl and stimulants has increased more than 50-fold since 2010. By 2021, stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamine) had become the most common drug class found in fentanyl-involved overdoses in every US state. This rise in fentanyl/stimulant fatalities constitutes the ‘fourth wave’ in the US’s long-running opioid overdose crisis.
Reminder that before fent took off 90% of the worlds illicit opioid supply came from Afghanistan, and the US consumed 80% of the world’s illicit opioids. One reason why Afghanistan became less important and ok to abandon is that we found a cheap mass producible replacement for poppy fields. Without fent we would likely still be there today.
Quite possibly.