# Synthetic drugs surge across US as Chicago fights back

> A wave of cheaper, more powerful synthetic drugs including tranq is sweeping America, even as overdose deaths fall from their 2022 peak.
- Title: Synthetic drugs surge across US as Chicago fights back
- Summary: A wave of cheaper, more powerful synthetic drugs including tranq is sweeping America, even as overdose deaths fall from their 2022 peak. Synthetic drugs…
- Keywords: synthetic drugs, chicago, united states, drug crisis, tranq, overdose deaths, news, world, Synthetic, drugs, surge, across
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c84g166kz003o
- Published: 2026-10-18T21:00:22.23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: synthetic drugs, chicago, united states, drug crisis, tranq, overdose deaths, news, world
## Synthetic drugs sweep across America
A new wave of synthetic drugs is sweeping across the United States, raising fear of a worsening drug crisis. Authorities are increasingly concerned about cheaper, more powerful synthetic drugs, including an animal tranquilliser called tranq.
## Overdose deaths fell but crisis may accelerate
Drug overdose deaths fell from a peak of around one hundred ten thousand in twenty twenty-two to roughly seventy thousand last year. However, America's decades-long drug crisis may be accelerating.
## Chicago communities battle on the frontlines
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville reports from the frontlines in South Side, Chicago, where communities are battling the synthetic drug crisis.
## Key takeaway

Synthetic drugs including the animal tranquilliser tranq are flooding the United States, raising fears of a worsening drug crisis despite overdose deaths falling from around one hundred ten thousand in twenty twenty-two to roughly seventy thousand last year.