Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, recently suggested on Twitter that the United States consider legalizing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for thousands of overdose deaths in the country.

Musk claims that legalizing fentanyl would allow for quality assurance and regulation, lowering the risk of overdose or consuming a contaminated batch.

Too Dangerous To Be Legalized

However, Musk's tweet drew mixed responses, with many people in the replies arguing that the drug is far too dangerous to legalize.

The tweet was criticized for ignoring that fentanyl is primarily used medically for anesthesia and as an analgesic. While fentanyl has legitimate medical applications, the drug has an extremely high overdose risk in humans.

Some have also pointed out that Musk's tweet ignores the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on communities across the United States.

Fentanyl is highly addictive and has a high overdose risk, which could increase fatalities if legalized. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, drug overdose deaths increased after the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and claimed nearly 200,000 lives in 2020 and 2021.

As reported by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), criminal groups smuggle fentanyl across the border using chemicals sourced from China and manufactured in Mexico.

People Reacts to Musk's Comments

"[Fentanyl] is a very different drug to alcohol in terms of speed-to-dependency and ease of deadly overdose," wrote British TV presenter Liv Boeree in response to the tweet.

"I'd bet that making it legally available - and thus more socially normalized - would create even more victims than the status quo," Boeree adds.

Houman David Hemmati, an opthalmologist, also argues with Musk's tweet: "I actually disagree with you on this. Accidental alcohol overdoses and deaths are a very rare side effect of its use."

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"With fentanyl, a minuscule amount is sufficient to kill with small margins of error. And so addictive that you can't stop once you've started," he notes.

Musk's View on Controversial Drugs

Musk has a history of making incendiary remarks on social media. In October 2022, he tweeted about his use of Wegovy, a weight-loss drug linked to thyroid tumors, and a supply shortage for diabetes patients who require the medication.

While Musk's views on drugs are likely to continue to stoke debate, it remains to be seen whether his views will gain more traction and result in policy changes.

What's in the News

Elon Musk's tweet calling for the legalization of fentanyl has sparked debate among health experts and the general public.

While some argue that legalizing the drug would reduce the likelihood of overdose or consumption of a contaminated batch, others say that it is far too dangerous to be legalized.

Musk's tweet has also been criticized for ignoring the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on communities across the United States.

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