In the article, "Fentanyl and the U.S. Opiod Epidemic" by Claire Klobucista and Alejandra Martinez, published and updated April 19, 2023 to the Council on Foreign Relations, the authors discuss the horrific statistics of this epidemic and describe some of the ways in which other countries are coping. 

In our own country, the U.S. has tried to restrict the flow of illegal opioids in various strategies including providing Mexico with 3.5 billion in security and counter narcotics aid through the Merida Initiative (2008-2021) nd coordinating efforts with China to crack down on production. Although widely applauded, this project suffered a setback by politics and diplomacy tactics. In 2021, the U.S. and Mexico announced the Bicentennial  Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities, to find and explore new solutions to drug abuse, arms reductionhuman trafficking and the disruption of organized crime groups responsible for synthetic opioid production.  Prsident Biden's plan prioritizes access to treatment and harm reduction interventions including access to Naloxone, easing restrictions on the prescriptions of Buprenorphine and proving test strips to users.

In the Netherlands,the country began offering heroin at no cost which reduced the rate of problem use by half from 2002 to 2012 according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. 

In Canada, the country has authorized the opening of supervised consumption sites and partnered with China to curb fentanyl flows into the country. In 2023, British Columbia decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other hard drugs. People found with less than 2.5 grams of any of these substances will be provided information on addiction programs instead of facing legal action.

In Portugal, the country decriminalized the possession of narcotics for personal use and focused on treatment rather than incarceration. Its recovery programs have been highly praised and adopted by countries around the world.

In France, Naloxone is regularly distributed to high risk users. A safe drug consumption room, Gaia, opened in Paris in 2016 and serves about 200 drug addicts everyday with free needles and a safe place to shoot up-- most often crack of Skenan, a strong presciption opioid sold on the streets -- while offering access to optional counseling from social workers, psychiatrists and other health authorities.