The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the United States announced on Wednesday, December 3, the launch of the “Fentanyl Free America” initiative. This initiative aims to address the synthetic drug crisis through comprehensive enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns, with the goal of reducing the threat of fentanyl to American communities from both the supply and demand sides.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl claimed the lives of nearly 50,000 Americans in 2024. Since 2021, synthetic opioids have caused the deaths of nearly 325,000 Americans, making synthetic drugs the most deadly crisis in American society.
The DEA stated in its official announcement on its website that in recent times, the agency has exerted unprecedented pressure on the global fentanyl supply chain through enhanced enforcement actions and intelligence work. These measures have forced drug trafficking organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG Cartel to change their operations and reduce the purity of drugs.
The announcement indicates that the latest laboratory testing data shows encouraging progress. DEA laboratory tests revealed that 29% of fentanyl pills analyzed in the 2025 fiscal year contained a potentially lethal dose, a significant decrease from 76% tested two years ago in the 2023 fiscal year. Additionally, the purity of fentanyl powder also dropped from 19.5% in the same period to 10.3%. Due to the decrease in potency and purity of synthetic drugs, the number of deaths related to synthetic opioids in the United States has reached the lowest level since April 2020.
In DEA enforcement actions, as of December 1, 2025, the agency has seized over 45 million fentanyl pills and more than 9,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. This is equivalent to removing approximately 347 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl from communities.
DEA Director Terrance Cole stated in the announcement, “The ‘Fentanyl Free America’ initiative represents DEA’s steadfast commitment to saving American lives and ending the fentanyl crisis. While we are making significant progress, we will continue to work towards dismantling the fentanyl supply and reducing demand.”
The “Fentanyl Free America” initiative not only focuses on law enforcement but also emphasizes the importance of enhancing public education and the involvement of various sectors of society. DEA calls on community leaders, clergy, educators, parents, doctors, pharmacists, and law enforcement officers to participate by educating, protecting others, preventing fentanyl poisoning, and supporting those affected by drugs.
DEA provides free resources on its website dea.gov/fentanylfree, including posters, radio ads, billboards, and social media materials, for public use.