The DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign continues to address the dangers of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl

Punjabi Head Line( Harminder Singh Kitty )In 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized over 55 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and approximately 7,888 pounds of fentanyl powder, amounting to more than 367 million lethal doses. This represents a slight decrease from 2023, when over 80 million such pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder were confiscated, totaling more than 390 million lethal doses.

The DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign continues to address the dangers of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. In February 2025, the DEA partnered with NFL Alumni Health to amplify this message during Super Bowl LIX week. The collaboration included a health symposium at Tulane University and community outreach events, aiming to educate the public on the risks of illicit fentanyl.

Despite these efforts, fentanyl remains a significant threat, with synthetic opioids responsible for approximately 70% of the 107,941 drug-related deaths in the U.S. in 2022. The DEA emphasizes the importance of public awareness and law enforcement collaboration to combat this crisis.

In addition to DEA efforts, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported seizing over 19,600 pounds of fentanyl during fiscal year 2024, reflecting a dramatic increase in fentanyl interceptions in recent years.

The DEA continues to urge public vigilance and collaboration with law enforcement to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

Drug overdose deaths in Canada and the United States have increased in recent years. The latest figures for both countries are provided below:

Canada:

2016 to 2023: From 2016 to March 2023, more than 49,105 opioid-related deaths were recorded in Canada.

First three months of 2023: 1,904 deaths were reported in the first three months alone (January to March).

United States:

In 2022: There were a total of 107,941 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2022, giving an age-adjusted rate of 32.6 per 100,000 people.

In 2021: Previously, 106,249 deaths were recorded in 2021.

These figures show that both countries are facing a growing problem of drug overdose-related deaths, which requires greater efforts to understand and prevent drug use and the problems associated with it.

The available data on drug overdose deaths in India is limited. However, some reports and studies provide some information:

Punjab:

In 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Punjab recorded the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the country, totaling 144 deaths.

Mizoram:

From November 2012 to July 2013, 328 overdose cases and 13 deaths were recorded, according to reports from the Mizoram Health and Family Welfare Department.

Opioid Use in India:

According to a 2019 study, the prevalence of opioid use in India is three times the global average, with approximately 2.1% of the population using opioids.

These figures indicate that India has a serious drug problem, but there is a lack of detailed national data on overdose-related deaths. For accurate and up-to-date information, local health departments or government reports can be consulted