Fentanyl cannot be defeated without new tactics
Suppression works even less well than with other narcotics
IT IS OVER 50 years since Richard Nixon initiated America’s war on drugs, yet victory seems further away than ever. In the 12 months to September 2023 more than 105,000 Americans died from overdoses—almost double the number killed in combat in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. No matter how zealously the government patrols the border and how ferociously it pursues traffickers, the problem only seems to get worse.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “A losing battle”
Leaders March 2nd 2024
From the March 2nd 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Leaders
Germany’s failure to lead the EU is becoming a problem
A weak chancellor and coalition rows are to blame
How to ensure Africa is not left behind by the AI revolution
Weak digital infrastructure is holding the continent back
A global gold rush is changing sport
Fans may be cooling on the Olympics, but elsewhere technology is transforming how sport is watched
Can Kamala Harris win?
Joe Biden’s vice-president has an extraordinary opportunity. But she also has a mountain to climb
MAGA Republicans are wrong to seek a cheaper dollar
It is hard to cast America as a victim of the global financial system
Joe Biden has given Democrats a second chance to win the White House
If they are not to squander it, they must have a proper contest