China’s fentanyl crackdown led to a stunning drop in U.S. overdoses, research says

January 12, 2026

Unlabeled pill bottles in a pharmacy

(Axios) – Chinese crackdowns on fentanyl may have reduced overdoses and saved American lives, new research shows.

Why it matters: The data-backed explanation for the 34% plunge in overdose deaths from its peak suggests diplomatic pressure was more effective than decades of mass street-level arrests. (Read More)