Oregon Overdose Crisis Deepens as Trump Declares Illicit Fentanyl a Weapon of Mass Destruction

In the wake of statewide deaths in Oregon tripling since 2019, with about two-thirds now involving illicit fentanyl, President Trump issued an Executive Order classifying “illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals” as weapons of mass destruction on Monday.

Illicit Fentanyl Classified “Weapon of Mass Destruction”

Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has acted like a “weapon” in Oregon by driving record overdoses.

The number of unintentional overdose deaths in Oregon associated with illicitly manufactured fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022, rising from 223 to 843. The latest report shows that, in Multnomah County, 89% of homeless overdose deaths were tied to fentanyl.

President Trump announced his Executive Order yesterday during a ceremony honoring US service members who received medals for their role in protecting the US border. Illicit fentanyl was classified as a weapon of mass destruction, which, according to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, includes:

• Weaponry with “the potential to cause death or serious injury to people through toxic or poisonous chemicals.”
• “Produce in a single moment an enormous, destructive effect capable of killing millions of civilians, jeopardizing the natural environment, and fundamentally altering the lives of future generations through their catastrophic effects.”

While federal government data indicates that drug overdose deaths in the US last year dropped to the lowest level in five years, synthetic opioids- mainly fentanyl- are still involved in most overdose deaths.

In Oregon, the rise in overdose fatalities has been linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl that has been prevalent in the state since 2019.

Law enforcement seizures of illicitly manufactured fentanyl have ramped up, with 3 million counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and 176.8 kilograms (about 389.78 lbs.) of powder fentanyl seized in 2023.

Almost all these drug seizures were along the I-5 corridor within Oregon counties designated as high-intensity drug trafficking areas (HIDTA).

The President’s EO directs:

• Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately pursue investigations and prosecutions into fentanyl trafficking
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to pursue appropriate actions against relevant assets and financial institutions in accordance with applicable law for those involved in or supporting the manufacture, distribution, and sale of illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals.