The Future of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids

Deaths involving synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, increased from roughly 3,000 in 2013 to more than 30,000 in 2018. This analysis provides decisionmakers, researchers, media outlets, and the public with insights intended to improve their understanding of the synthetic opioid problem and how to respond to it. Limiting policy responses to existing approaches will likely be insufficient and may condemn many people to early deaths.