The fentanyl crisis exploded under former President Joe Biden's leadership. 

This is according to a new report from Fox News, which is based on the results of a study conducted by the Council of Economic Advisers.

This is an agency within the executive branch, and its role is to advise the president on economic matters.

The agency's study found that, in 2023, under the Biden administration, the Fentanyl crisis cost the United States $2.7 trillion. This, of course, is a massive number.

The details:

Fox explains how the study was carried out.

The outlet writes, "The Council of Economic Advisers study used a 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that researchers adjusted to account for inflation trends, and opioid deaths and dependency, since its release."

It continues:

The loss of life in 2023, for example, cost the U.S. $1.11 trillion, with the study explaining that researchers multiplied the 74,702 opioid deaths that year "by value of statistical life in the United States and then adding productivity and healthcare costs that arise due to opioid fatalities."

As for the rest of the money, some of it comes from "loss of quality of life for those in the midst of opioid addiction compared to Americans who are healthy."

Fox goes on to explain that there is still more, including the amount of money the crisis cost the health care system, the loss of labor productivity, and even the increase in crime. To make a long study short, it has placed a huge burden on the country.

Trump steps in

This, no doubt, is one of the reasons why President Donald Trump is working so hard to close the southern border - as well as the northern one.

It has been well-established that the Chinese, among others, have been sneaking fentanyl into the United States through the open borders.

The Associated Press reports:

President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China is partly aimed at combating the illicit flow of fentanyl into the U.S., where the opioid is blamed for some 70,000 overdose deaths annually.

As we now know, Trump's plan seems to be working, as the border is much more secure than it has been in many years.

Trump's tariffs have also had the effect of getting Mexico and Canada to play a role in securing the borders. Both countries have taken positive steps in this direction. This includes Mexico's agreement to send 10,000 troops to the border.