Secretary of State Blinken has presented the Global Coalition to Address the Threats of Synthetic Drugs. A coalition that aims to unite countries in a concerted effort to combat the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of synthetic drugs. Almost 100 countries and international organizations have joined the launch, which means that there is enormous concern about this threat to public health and national security.
In declarations of United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Todd D. Robinson: “jTogether, we are determined to strengthen efforts to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, identify emerging trends in relation to synthetic drugs and patterns of use, and promote actions to respond effectively to their impacts on the public health”.
Members of this new alliance will exchange data and intensify efforts in an attempt to mitigate the health impact of synthetic drug use. These types of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine represent a serious health and safety risk, especially in the United States where they have become a true nightmare.
Thousands of deaths from synthetic drugs in the United States
In 2022, the health control agencies estimated that almost 110,000 Americans lost their lives due to drug overdoses. According to official data, some 20 million Americans are undergoing treatment and detoxification. In this regard, President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy has allocated $24 billion this year to reinforce drug-related public health interventions.
It is vital for the United States to keep in mind that these dangers are not limited only to its territory. According to Robinson, an unprecedented number of countries are facing a growing threat from synthetic drugs such as tramadol, captagon, MDMA, and ketamine. Criminals are constantly innovating their methodologies to create new synthetic drugs, tweaking formulas to circumvent international controls and national regulations, and generating new demand. According to the United States, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs have been detected and reported to the United Nations over the past decade.. Through the Global Coalition to Address the Threats of Synthetic Drugs and thanks to international cooperation, member countries believe that supply chains can be more effectively disrupted of illicit synthetic drugs.
