Understanding the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis: US-Mexico Solutions

Fentanyl and other opioids are fueling the worst drug crisis in the history of the United States. According to the CDC, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022.  A staggering 67 percent of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Furthermore, synthetic opioid-involved death rates increased by over 56% from 2019 to 2020 and accounted for over 82% of all opioid-involved deaths in 2020. The rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids was more than 18 times higher in 2020 than in 2013. 

While the López Obrador administration has intensified efforts to seize precursor chemicals arriving predominately from China, in addition to identifying and destroying clandestine laboratories, and designating the navy to oversee ports, the flow of fentanyl to the United States continues to increase. In order to address this mutual challenge, strengthening U.S.-Mexico cooperation on illegal trafficking of opioids is key.  

To analyze the drivers behind the opioid epidemic, how to increase US-Mexico cooperation against cross-border organized crime and illicit trafficking, and the preventive measures and treatment options available to face this ongoing challenge, please join us on Monday, September 18 from 11:00am to 12:30pm EST. 

11:00 am – 11:05 am

Introduction

Earl Anthony Wayne, Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University

11:05 am – 11:25 am

Keynote Address

Charisse Phillips, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement

11:25 am – 11:30 am

Panelist Introduction

• Francisco Rivas, President, National Citizen Observatory of Security, Justice, and Legality

11:30 am – 11:50 am

Opening Questions

• Jaime Arredondo, Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health and Social Policy and scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use, Research, University of Victoria

   

• Victoria Dittmar, Author and Project Manager at Insight Crime

   

• Marya Hynes, Chief of CICAD’s Inter-American Observatory on Drugs, OAS

   

• Daniel Ciccarone, Professor Family Community Medicine, UCSF

   

• Gretchen Bergman, Executive Director, A New PATH

   

   

  Moderated by Lila Abed, Deputy Director, Mexico Institute 

11:50 am – 12:15 pm

Roundtable Discussion

Moderated by Lila Abed, Deputy Director, Mexico Institute

12:15 pm – 12:25 pm

Conclusions

12:15 pm – 12:25 pm

Closing Remarks

• Earl Anthony Wayne, Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University