US Declares Laced Fentanyl an 'Emerging Threat' Facing the Nation

US Declares Laced Fentanyl , an 'Emerging Threat' , Facing the Nation.

On April 12, the Biden administration's drug czar declared that fentanyl mixed with an animal tranquilizer presents an "emerging threat" in the U.S. NBC reports that xylazine, an animal tranquilizer often referred to as "tranq," has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths in the U.S. Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, called on the Biden administration to create a federal plan to address the worsening crisis.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, called on the Biden administration to create a federal plan to address the worsening crisis.

The agency's declaration gives the administration 90 days to publish a response plan and provide implementation guidance within 120 days.

As the president’s drug policy adviser, I am deeply concerned about what this threat means for the nation.

We must act and act now, Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, via NBC.

NBC reports that the historic announcement marks the first time in U.S. history that an illicit drug has formally been labeled an "emerging threat.".

NBC reports that the historic announcement marks the first time in U.S. history that an illicit drug has formally been labeled an "emerging threat.".

The agency gained legal authority to require federal action under the SUPPORT Act, which was signed into law by former President Donald Trump in 2018.

The agency gained legal authority to require federal action under the SUPPORT Act, which was signed into law by former President Donald Trump in 2018.

According to the National Institutes of Health, opioids like fentanyl are increasingly being combined with xylazine and trafficked on the illicit drug market.

The Food and Drug Administration warns that xylazine is not approved for human use and can result in life-threatening effects.

Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier, Anne Milgram, DEA Administrator, via statement