The Ministry of Public Security in Vietnam has issued a stark warning about the emergence of Fentanyl, dubbed the “zombie drug” due to its horrifying effects and extreme potency. This illicit substance is a highly dangerous opioid, reported to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, yet alarmingly cheap.
A New, Extremely Potent, and Toxic Drug
The Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04) has highlighted Fentanyl as a major new threat in the increasingly diverse drug market. Unlike traditional synthetic drugs like ecstasy or ketamine, Fentanyl’s unique properties make it exceptionally hazardous.
It’s the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, with the CDC reporting
Fentanyl is a potent opioid painkiller prescribed medically in many countries for severe pain management. It can be administered via injection, nasal spray, sublingual tablets, or transdermal patches. However, its high addictive potential, along with its derivatives (such as alfentanil, remifentanil, sufentanil, acetylfentanyl, butyrfentanyl, and furanylfentanyl), has led to its widespread abuse in illicit drug production. Consequently, the United Nations has listed these substances under the 1961 International Convention on Controlled Substances.
Illegal Fentanyl is particularly lethal because it’s unregulated and not quality-controlled. Even a minuscule overdose can be fatal. Users often misjudge dosages, and exposure can occur not only through injection or ingestion but also by inhalation, or skin, eye, nose, or mouth contact. The UNODC warns that its high toxicity results in a significantly higher death rate among illegal users compared to heroin, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year.
Global Reach of Illicit Fentanyl
Illicit Fentanyl takes various forms and street names (e.g., “white china,” “synthetic heroin”) depending on regional demand. In countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Germany, users sometimes extract Fentanyl from pharmaceutical products. In the US, it’s sold as pills, powder, or solutions, often mixed with cocaine or heroin, or disguised as counterfeit pharmaceutical products containing Fentanyl. Unknowing users are highly susceptible to overdose due to unpredictable dosages. Even sellers or producers may not know the exact potency of their products.
A significant portion of illicit Fentanyl smuggled into the US originates from Mexico and Central/South American countries, leading to complex security situations and fierce competition among criminal organizations for smuggling routes.
In Southeast Asia, Fentanyl has been seized in Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand (with a recent seizure in Thailand of over 510 tons of aniline, a precursor for 85 tons of Fentanyl). China is currently considered the primary manufacturing hub for illicit Fentanyl and its precursors. While controls on production and export have been tightened, the global impact remains substantial.
The global spread of Fentanyl and its derivatives has accelerated, especially in North America, with signs of expansion into Oceania and Asia. Between 2012 and 2016, 17 Fentanyl-related substances were reported to UNODC by countries across East Asia, Europe, and North America. The ease and low cost of acquiring manufacturing tools and the simple production process make Fentanyl a significant challenge for drug control efforts worldwide.
Vietnam’s Strategy Against Fentanyl
To prevent the illicit trafficking, trade, and use of Fentanyl, Vietnam has proactively listed Fentanyl under Annex II of Government Decree No. 73/2018/ND-CP (May 15, 2018). This places it among controlled substances with restricted use for scientific research, crime investigation, or limited medical purposes. Its derivatives are also included in this decree.
Currently, Fentanyl and its derivatives have not yet been detected in seizures in Vietnam. However, given its market expansion from the Americas to Oceania and Asia, its appearance in the region and Vietnam is considered inevitable, especially with China and India being major sources of precursors.
In light of this looming threat, Vietnam is implementing multi-pronged prevention efforts:
- Intensified Public Awareness: Campaigns will be ramped up, especially targeting youth, students, and university individuals, to educate them about the dangers of drugs, focusing on new substances, and those disguised as food, beverages, tobacco, herbal products, or “laughing gas.” Public participation in reporting drug-related activities to law enforcement is also encouraged.
- Inter-agency Coordination: Collaboration with Customs, Market Management, Industry and Trade, Health, and Agriculture and Rural Development agencies will increase. This includes stricter inspections and handling of unregulated imported goods (food, beverages, tobacco products, e-cigarettes) and tighter controls on the import, export, circulation, prescription, and use of Fentanyl-containing medications.
- Proactive Detection: In ongoing efforts against drug crime and through drug identification processes, authorities will actively seek to detect new illicit drugs and precursors appearing locally, especially highly toxic new psychoactive substances like Fentanyl, to ensure timely prevention, investigation, and strict legal prosecution.
The rising global threat of Fentanyl underscores the critical need for continued vigilance and comprehensive strategies to protect communities from its devastating impact.
