Jeremiah 22:17  “Your eyes and heart are for nothing but dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood.”

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) defines fentanyl: “A synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal overdoses in the U.S.”

In the mid-1990’s in the US, pharmaceutical companies created a new medication – “oxycontin” – promising not only significant reductions in chronic pain relief but also promising these new pills are not addictive.

Within the next 10 years – when opioids become a major health crisis as the addition levels went out of control – fentanyl passed all other drugs for killing people.

Just to be clear, there are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally made fentanyl (IMF). Both are synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer. IMF is now the drug of choice for drug dealers.

Why are drug dealers attracted to IMF? Because of its potency – for its heroin-like effect. Dealers add IMF to other drugs to increase the potency and decrease its cost. What you end up with is the most addictive and dangerous illegal substance in America.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has just provided their latest report on deaths from IMF overdose: “In 2022, provisional data indicated that 68% of the reported 107,081 drug overdose deaths in the United States involved synthetic opioids other than methadone, principally illicitly manufactured fentanyls (IMFs).”

That means there were nearly 73,000 deaths due to IMF in 2022 alone. The CDC goes on: “Among 21 jurisdictions, the monthly proportion of IMF-involved deaths increased 276% from January 2019. The monthly number of IMF-involved deaths increased from 12 in January 2019 to 188 in June 2022.”

Because IMF is mixed with other drugs, you would not know it since it cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. You must test your drugs with fentanyl test strips, or your life is in jeopardy when handling unknown drugs.

From where is IMF entering the United States? The US Attorneys Office of the Southern District of CA, in an August 2022 report, detailed what is going on at America’s unprotected border to Mexico:

“More deadly fentanyl is being seized by border officials in San Diego counties than at any of the nation’s 300-plus ports of entry, making this federal district an epicenter for fentanyl trafficking into the US.

From October 2021-June 2022, U.S. Customs and San Diego Border agencies seized 5,091 pounds of fentanyl, which amounts to about 60% of the 8,425 pounds of fentanyl seized around the entire country.

Mexican cartels are increasingly manufacturing fentanyl for distribution and sale in the US. Initially, drug traffickers were adding small amounts of fentanyl to large loads of other drugs like methamphetamine. But now, cartels are moving large quantities of fentanyl across the border. In a recent 6-day period (July 13-18), Border Patrol intercepted 4 vehicle loads of fentanyl weighing between 100 – 250 pounds.

‘A decade ago, we didn’t even know about fentanyl, and now it’s a national crisis,’ said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The amount of fentanyl we are seizing at the border is staggering. The number of fentanyl seizures and deaths in our district are unprecedented.”

Our unprotected border is the main driver behind the 73,000 IMF deaths in the US.  As this week’s verse tells us, God will have vengeance on those intent on getting wealthy through shedding innocent blood.

Worse yet, Americans face a huge problem this Halloween. Drug dealers are packaging IMF to look like candy. The DEA is calling it “Rainbow Fentanyl”, manufactured by the cartel to target young adults.  

“Rainbow fentanyl” comes in bright candy-colored pills or powder. Paul Christo, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told Health. “Kids often will want to try it orally, they want to taste it or know how to use it, and that’s what’s so dangerous.”

Joseph Palamar, MPH, PhD, associate professor of Population Health at NYU, had this to say: “Without knowing exactly the dose being consumed – because we don’t really know how much fentanyl is packed into a small tablet or brick that looks like chalk or candy – I would assume that it’s going to be lethal.”

“The Evidence of Faith’s Substance” _ Article #572