Division Keeps the U.S. From Effectively Tackling the Fentanyl Crisis

Fentanyl has killed an unprecedented number of people in the United States again in 2023. But so far Washington’s political leaders haven’t been able to workout creative solutions to the crisis together.

Like the pandemic before it, the fentanyl crisis has divided Americans along political and cultural fault lines.

NPR’s Asma Khalid speaks with three reporters — NPR’s addiction correspondent Brian Mann, WBUR’s Martha Bebinger, and KFF Health News’ Aneri Pattani — about the depth of the crisis and possible solutions.