In brief
‘Tranq’, a potent animal tranquilizer, has slipped into the streets and moved into the hands of drug dealers, raising alarm across the United States. In Columbus, Ohio, several churches have launched community outreach programs to educate residents and provide support for those struggling with addiction. BBC reporters Quentin Sommerville and Darren Conway travelled to the city to investigate how faith‑based organisations are responding to the crisis. Their findings suggest that the combination of reduced demand, treatment access and local activism could help stem the tide of overdose deaths.
The United States has been fighting a war on drugs for decades, yet cartels and dealers seem to stay one step ahead of authorities. President Trump declared the cartels “terrorists” and branded fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid, a “weapon of mass destruction.”
Now the supply is shifting. A new synthetic drug, known on the streets as “tranq,” comes from potent animal tranquilisers and presents a fresh challenge for law‑enforcement and health professionals. While overdose deaths from fentanyl have fallen, the emerging potency of tranq is alarming recovery workers.
In Columbus, Ohio, local churches have taken a leading role in the fight. They offer educational seminars, support groups and outreach to at‑risk populations, hoping to curb demand and aid recovery.
BBC international correspondent Quentin Sommerville and camera journalist Darren Conway documented the churches’ initiatives, interviewing clergy, patients and police to paint a comprehensive picture of the crisis. Their report highlights that prevention, treatment and community support are critical in halting the spread of tawdry synthetic drugs.
Read more on this story: A wave of homemade, synthetic drugs sweeps US and deepens crisis.
