New Delhi, July 11 -- Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams (the size of a pencil tip) can be lethal. Illegally made fentanyl is often mixed into fake pills or drugs like heroin, causing accidental overdoses.

It fueled over 112,000 U.S. overdose deaths in 2024 alone, making it America's #1 cause of death for adults under 45. While pharmaceutical fentanyl treats severe pain, illicit versions are typically smuggled from labs in China and Mexico.

Trump claims Canada allows fentanyl to "pour into the U.S.," justifying a 35% tariff on Canadian goods starting August 1. In his letter to PM Mark Carney, he accused Canada of "failure to stop the...