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Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45, according 2021 death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC says, more people have died from fentanyl overdoses than the number of U.S. military personnel killed during the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.
Opioids caused the majority of the 106,699 overdose deaths in 2021 and 88% were from fentanyl, according to the CDC.
In fact, the research shows fentanyl kills more people than suicide, car accidents, pandemics and all other drug overdoses combined.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, most of the illicit fentanyl flooding U.S. streets is coming in from Mexico with ingredients coming from China.
Immigration authorities say, "the vast majority of the smuggling happens at official ports of entry."
As a result, the United States and China are working together to stop the production and trade of fentanyl.
A US delegation led by Deputy Homeland Security Adviser Jen Daskal arrived in Beijing Tuesday for the first joint meeting.