Fentanyl Deaths Down in the United States?? Forget About It!!!

The DEA’s Third Annual National Family Summit on Fentanyl: Progress, Challenges, and a Renewed Commitment to Saving Lives

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In an era marked by an unrelenting opioid crisis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosted the third annual National Family Summit on Fentanyl on November 14–15, 2024, in Washington, D.C. This event brought together over 120 families who have endured the devastating loss of loved ones to fentanyl poisoning or overdose. The summit served not only as a platform for collective mourning but also as a forum for actionable strategies, collaboration, and advocacy aimed at addressing one of the gravest public health crises of our time.

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram opened the summit with a significant update: For the first time since 2018, the United States has witnessed a decrease in drug overdose deaths. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation saw a 14.5% decline in overdose fatalities between June 2023 and June 2024. This reduction translates to over 14,000 lives saved—a testament to the collaborative efforts of federal agencies, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and advocacy groups.

Equally significant is the decrease in the potency of illicit fentanyl pills flooding the market. Laboratory testing by the DEA in 2024 revealed that 5 out of 10 fentanyl-laced pills contain a potentially fatal dose, a marked improvement from 7 out of 10 in 2023 and 6 out of 10 in 2022.

Administrator Milgram underscored the importance of these developments, stating:

“Decreases in drug-related deaths and the lethality of pills equals lives saved. The 14.5% decrease in poisonings and overdose deaths translates to more than 14,000 American lives saved. The cartels have reduced the amount of fentanyl they put into pills because of the pressure we are putting on them. Much work remains, and one death is too many, but today we can find some comfort in the fact that the work we are all doing together – to enforce our laws; to educate Americans on the dangers of fentanyl; to increase access to Naloxone and MOUD – is saving lives.”

Central to the summit was the unveiling of a new interactive kiosk as part of the Faces of Fentanyl exhibit at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Originally launched in 2022, the exhibit serves as a poignant tribute to the more than 6,100 lives commemorated through photographs shared by grieving families. These images now line the walls of the DEA Headquarters, humanizing an epidemic often reduced to statistics.

The newly introduced interactive kiosk expands the exhibit’s capacity, offering not only personal stories but also educational resources about the dangers of counterfeit pills and illicit fentanyl. Families had the opportunity to participate in a dedication ceremony, reinforcing their commitment to turning personal loss into collective action.

Recognizing that sustained change requires year-round commitment, the DEA also announced the formation of the Together For Families (TFF) Network. This initiative seeks to unite national and community-based organizations in a shared mission to:

Prevent drug misuse through targeted education campaigns

Expand access to treatment and recovery services

Support families impacted by fentanyl overdoses

Advocate for systemic changes in public health and criminal justice responses

The TFF Network represents a long-term investment in combating the fentanyl crisis and ensuring that families have access to critical resources. Additional information about the network is available at www.dea.gov/togetherforfamilies.

Administrator Milgram emphasized the indispensable role that families play in the ongoing fight against fentanyl:

“Much of the progress we’ve made is due to the relentless efforts of families who have turned their grief into action—educating communities, advocating for policy changes, and supporting other families facing similar tragedies.”

Workshops at the summit provided families with tools to amplify their voices, navigate policy advocacy, and share their personal stories in ways that drive meaningful change.

While the recent progress is significant, the summit did not shy away from acknowledging the persistent threats posed by transnational criminal organizations, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. These networks remain the primary drivers of fentanyl production and distribution in the United States.

The DEA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling these criminal enterprises through targeted enforcement actions, intelligence-sharing, and international cooperation.

The DEA also highlighted the critical importance of widespread access to Naloxone, an opioid-reversal drug, and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). Education campaigns aimed at dispelling myths about fentanyl, promoting harm-reduction strategies, and encouraging community resilience remain central to the DEA’s long-term strategy.

The 2024 National Family Summit on Fentanyl drew attention to a sobering yet hopeful reality: while progress is being made, the fight against fentanyl is far from over. Every life lost to this crisis represents an incalculable tragedy, but every life saved signals the tangible impact of collective action.

The summit served as a powerful reminder that combating the fentanyl crisis requires not just enforcement but also compassion, education, and unwavering advocacy. As families returned home from Washington, D.C., they carried with them not only the weight of their personal losses but also renewed hope, strengthened resolve, and a shared vision for a future where fentanyl no longer claims thousands of lives each year.

For more information about the DEA’s efforts, resources, and initiatives, visit www.dea.gov.