There is so much reductive thinking in this thread, it is painful. Fentanyl has been on the market since the 1960. The deaths started spiking in 2014. Did we step up enforcement majorly in 2014? Or did something else start this rise?

Why import anything if you could produce it domestically? Is it possible that basic enforcement has obvious impact? If we allowed labs to produce it domestically, do you think we would see more, or less? What mechanism drives that outcome? What if this is already starting to happen?

The creation of the DEA has had a negative value outcome with respect to the amount of drugs in our society, I'll grant you, but I have a feeling that's due to it being setup as a paramilitary organization as opposed to a knowledge and tactical care based organization focused on the ground level issues surrounding actual users and user/dealers.