Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight champion and now a cannabis entrepreneur, has joined forces with the DEA to warn Americans about the deadly fentanyl crisis that continues to claim thousands of lives across the nation.
Key Takeaways
- Boxing legend Mike Tyson partnered with the DEA to promote the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign, highlighting the dangers of fentanyl.
- Tyson visited a DEA laboratory in New York, accompanied by Alina Habba, the acting US Attorney for New Jersey, who recently launched a “strike force” targeting fentanyl manufacturers and smugglers.
- Nearly 70% of recent US overdose deaths are attributed to illegally manufactured fentanyls, with New York City alone reporting nearly 2,200 fatal overdoses last year.
- Despite his success in the cannabis industry, Tyson emphasized the stark difference between regulated products and deadly street drugs containing fentanyl.
- The campaign aligns with President Trump’s ongoing efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis and secure the southern border.
Boxing Legend Joins Fight Against Deadly Drug Crisis
Mike Tyson, the 58-year-old boxing icon, donned a blue DEA lab coat during his recent visit to a Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory in New York City. The former heavyweight champion’s appearance marked his support for the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign, a nationwide effort to educate Americans about the lethal dangers of fentanyl. Tyson was joined by Alina Habba, the acting US Attorney for New Jersey, who has been at the forefront of legal efforts to combat the opioid crisis that continues to devastate communities across America.
“One pill can kill,” said Mike Tyson, emphasizing the campaign’s stark warning about the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs.
Inside the DEA Lab: Confronting the Evidence
During the tour, Tyson witnessed firsthand the alarming variety of seized substances, including fraudulent Adderall pills and large fentanyl slabs. DEA officials demonstrated to Tyson how even minuscule amounts of these substances can prove fatal. The boxing legend was shown a fentanyl brick containing carfentanil, a substance significantly more potent than fentanyl itself. The lab visit highlighted the sophisticated methods drug traffickers use to disguise deadly opioids as common prescription medications, creating a lethal trap for unsuspecting users.
“There is a real toxic problem, and that’s the truth of it,” said Alina Habba, the acting US Attorney for New Jersey, who recently launched a specialized “strike force” targeting manufacturers and smugglers of fentanyl and similar opioids.
The Devastating Toll of America’s Fentanyl Crisis
The urgency of the campaign is underscored by grim statistics: nearly 70% of recent overdose deaths in the United States are attributed to illegally manufactured fentanyls. In New York City alone, authorities reported nearly 2,200 fatal overdoses last year, highlighting the pandemic-like spread of this crisis. Families across the nation continue to suffer as fentanyl claims victims from all walks of life, including children in shelters and successful professionals. The death of a 4-year-old boy from fentanyl exposure in a NYC shelter, despite receiving Narcan, illustrates the crisis’s heartbreaking reach.
“We have kids where they take a pill from God knows where or smoke a vape or take a gummy and they don’t know where it came from and next thing you know you are on the floor because of that little piece of fentanyl,” explained Alina Habba, highlighting the crisis’s impact on young Americans.
From Cannabis Entrepreneur to Anti-Fentanyl Advocate
Tyson’s involvement in the campaign comes with a unique perspective as a successful entrepreneur in the regulated cannabis industry. The boxing legend, sober for nine years, has built a cannabis empire that includes “Mike Bites,” THC-infused gummies shaped like an ear – a reference to his infamous 1997 fight with Evander Holyfield. During the DEA visit, Tyson emphasized the critical distinction between regulated cannabis products and dangerous street drugs, stressing the importance of knowing exactly what substances people are consuming.
“There is nothing worse than losing a kid,” said Rick Harrison, host of “Pawn Stars,” who praised President Trump’s border policies following his son’s fentanyl-related death.
President Trump’s Ongoing Battle Against the Fentanyl Crisis
The “One Pill Can Kill” campaign aligns with President Trump’s commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis and securing America’s borders. Recently, the President criticized Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum for declining his offer to send troops to combat drug cartels that continue to smuggle massive quantities of fentanyl across the southern border. The crisis has prompted calls from many Americans for the President to take even stronger action, including shutting down controversial “safe” drug sites in major cities that some critics believe enable addiction rather than solve the underlying problem.
“They’re selling poison,” said the Pawn Stars host, reflecting the sentiment of many Americans who have lost loved ones to the fentanyl epidemic that continues to devastate communities nationwide.
