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The Mafia may be keeping fentanyl out of Italy

204 points · 269 comments · runeks

  1. qoez · · focus · HN ↗
    I always assumed this was an america-only drug that no one actually does or at least not to the excess that it's claimed by the publications using it for the normal fear journalism purposes.
    1. criley2 · · focus · HN ↗
      No one "does" fentanyl, it's a highly addictive additive that is secretly added to other things. Even so, 50,000 - 70,000 Americans per year die to it (more than suicide and gun violence many other things).

      This is an "American" thing because fent primarily comes from Mexican cartels (Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation).

      They buy precursors from China, they produce it in labs in Mexico, and then smuggle it into America where they kill 50,000 to 70,000 Americans per year.

      Not getting political here -- but what would you think if organized crime in a neighboring country was murdering 50,000 to 70,000 of your countrymen per year?

      1. master-lincoln · · focus · HN ↗
        It's not murder. People are not forced to take fentanyl... Wouldn't these people get into a different drug if it wasn't fentanyl?
        1. geoduck14 · · focus · HN ↗
          While I agree that "murder" is the wrong word, there is an angle that you are missing.

          Drug dealers will lace "normal" drugs with fentanyl. It gives a "different buzz". The customer knows they are buying "normal" drugs, and there is no quality control, so lacing happens. If the dealer messes up how much they lace, it is easy to add too much (because a small amount t of fentanyl goes a long way), and your customer ODs.

          1. master-lincoln · · focus · HN ↗
            I was indeed missing that angle. Thanks for mentioning it
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