Washington, 16 December 2025 (dpa/MIA) - US President Donald Trump on Monday designated the synthetic opioid fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction" as part of efforts to tackle the ongoing drug crisis in the United States.

"We're formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, which is what it is. No bomb does what this is doing," Trump said as he signed the order in Washington. He said hundreds of thousands of people die each year from fentanyl abuse.

Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller used medically to treat severe pain and in anaesthesia, but it is highly addictive. Trump said the substance itself was not inherently bad, but could be abused when mixed with other substances.

The opioid has driven a severe drug crisis in the US. Fentanyl is up to 50 times more potent than heroin, and overdoses remain the leading cause of death among US citizens aged 18 to 44, according to government data. Just a few milligrams can be fatal, authorities say.

It remains unclear what practical impact Trump's designation will have. The executive order says the administration will examine whether the situation requires involvement by the defence department, including possible use of military forces. The US military already conducts counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean.

Under United Nations definitions, weapons of mass destruction include nuclear, biological and chemical arms. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also counts radiological and explosive weapons that can cause widespread harm to people, property and infrastructure.

Photo: epa