Fentanyl overdose deaths in the United States surged from 2013 to 2022, primarily due to the smuggling of fentanyl through ports-of-entry. In response, the U.S. enhanced fentanyl inspection at southern ports-of-entry from March 2023, launching extensive operations that utilized advanced cargo scanners. This study found that fentanyl deaths increased by 10% in the year leading up to the inspection enhancements and decreased by 32% in the following year. Following inspection enhancements at mainland ports-of-entry, fentanyl deaths decreased in 94% of mainland states and increased in both non-mainland states. These results support funding inspection enhancements at ports-of-entry in mainland and non-mainland states.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding

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The study used only openly available data that were originally located at: https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D176/D408F378

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