Letters: January 2025

Illicit fentanyl: still the perfect storm

News of fentanyl impacts upon the US make headlines almost daily. Deaths and death rates continue to increase. Reports of US Border Patrol seizures of fentanyl are increasing. Relationships with foreign countries and individuals which are involved in fentanyl synthesis or smuggling intermingle with immigration, crime and cost.

Sad reports of losing very talented people by fentanyl, such as TV entertainers, sport figures and musicians appear too often. Some took fentanyl in combination with other drugs, often unknowingly.

Many people are generally aware that there is a fentanyl problem in the US, but not its magnitude. Quantifying a problem is often a good way to clarify it.

The numbers of deaths and death rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began increasing sharply in 2013, from about 3000 to about 73,000 deaths in 2023 (the 2023 CDC data are provisional and still increasing). US Border Patrol seizures are also increasing annually. In 2023, over 27,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized, which is enough to kill everyone in the US over 18 times.

These benchmarks help track the status of the US fentanyl problem. They will quantify progress toward mitigating the problem.

The flow of illicit fentanyl distribution into the US is determined generally by supply and demand. The supply depends mostly upon border porosity – illegal fentanyl evading the US Border Patrol. The demand is determined by people buying it.

The supply of illicit fentanyl, due to border porosity, is influenced by state and federal governments, as well as pressure by potential immigrants. Fentanyl victim families have appealed to Congress about fentanyl deaths, and some members have attempted to take action. Border porosity reduction attempts created arguments focused on whether to take action, how much to reduce porosity, and when. Meanwhile hundreds of Americans die each day by fentanyl.

Demand for illicit fentanyl is created by people purchasing or seeking to purchase fentanyl from sources that are not FDA-regulated, such as hospitals, physicians, licensed dispensaries and pharmacies. Buyers range from people living on the street to teenagers living with parents. Some are addicts, and some are first-time users. A uniform solution is likely impossible with such wide-ranging demographics.

The number of people dying each day is overwhelming and dispersed throughout the US. Each person or organisation can impact people in their circle of influence by sharing the data about the extent of the fentanyl problem.

Other CDC data reveal that the age groups most impacted by fentanyl are those in their 20s and 30s. While teaching my organic chemistry classes at University of Oklahoma, about twice per semester I spent a few minutes discussing the CDC data. I told students to ‘stay away from street drugs’ because they are not regulated and no one knows what is in them. ‘Taking street drugs is like playing Russian roulette.’ Many students emailed me their thanks, saying that they had lost a friend or family member and that my message was the only one they had received. They said it helped them to hear this and that it would help them to avoid street drugs.

Until organisations such as the government and universities take action, we individuals must show a safe pathway.

This is especially true for students, who are grouped at institutions of education and who appreciate the message.

Donna Nelson
University of Oklahoma, US

Common hazards

I read the article ‘Public health put at risk by mooted EU classification of ethanol as reprotoxic’ with something close to despair. How on earth could ethanol be restricted for the use in topical disinfectants/hand-sanitising fluids based on research into pregnant women ingesting alcohol?

According to the saying: ‘The trouble with common sense is that it is not too common.’ I am waiting for that dangerous chemical, water, to be classified as hazardous – after all, you can drown in it!

Tony Pawson MRSC
Formby, UK

Further Reading

The editor’s mention of the department of chemistry at the University of Reading (Chemistry World, December 2024, p1) as one of the more recent departments facing closure is untimely and unfortunate.

The department will continue to offer degrees in chemistry thanks to the intervention of many fellow scientists and societies, including the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

Along with other good chemistry departments, Reading has been in this situation before. In 2001, applications to study chemistry across the UK were at an all-time low. At Reading we commenced a vibrant outreach programme with the support, encouragement and input of local chemistry teachers.

A few years later, along with other chemistry departments, we had support from the RSC through the projects Chemistry for our Future and Chemistry the Next Generation. The incentive was successful in turning around applications to study chemistry nationally to the extent that several new departments opened, and others reopened. At Reading we enjoyed our highest intake of students ever by 2010 and saw an increase in both quality and retention.

The UK still needs chemists, and good chemistry teachers. So come on, RSC. Bang the drum for chemistry through teacher-focused activities that enhance the enjoyment and understanding of chemistry for young people to grow a new generation of chemists. And continue to campaign for curriculum change to put the relevance back into secondary level chemistry.

Elizabeth Page FRSC
University of Reading, UK

Editor: As we went to press, the decision whether to retain the chemistry department at University of Reading was still pending, which meant that, unfortunately, we were not able to share the good news that the department will be retained. I’m pleased to say we have that story here.