Drug Czar Sara Carter convened a White House roundtable on Wednesday, February 18, with federal officials and representatives from major social media companies to address the sale of illicit drugs on digital platforms, according to a press release provided to The Dallas Express by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The meeting included representatives from Meta, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Internet Works. Federal officials from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also attended.
Participants discussed efforts to prevent drug traffickers from using social media platforms to sell counterfeit pills and fentanyl-laced substances, particularly to minors.
“Throughout my career, I have spoken to countless families who lost a child or loved one to drugs purchased through social media,” said Director Carter, “In many of these cases, the victim thought they were purchasing a safe pill, which actually contained a lethal dose of illicit fentanyl. In order to prevent this senseless loss of life, ONDCP will need full-scale cooperation from social media companies, law enforcement, and the whole-of-government. Most importantly, we as parents need to educate our children about the dangers of drugs and monitor their social media use to protect them from those who seek to do irreparable harm.”
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole also participated in the roundtable and called the exploitation of social media platforms by drug traffickers “unacceptable.”
“Drug traffickers are exploiting social media to infiltrate our homes, target our kids, and deliver their drugs directly to our doorsteps. This reality is unacceptable and requires the participation of all partners, including the social media companies facilitating these digital pipelines,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Today, we challenged these companies to join us in protecting our communities and exposing the dangers of counterfeit pills, fentanyl, and other deadly drugs sold online under a veil of anonymity. Through collaboration with law enforcement, educators, faith leaders, and the private sector, we can dismantle these networks, save lives, and move closer to a Fentanyl Free America.”
According to ONDCP, participants committed to enhancing coordination between law enforcement agencies and social media companies to prevent the abuse of digital platforms for illicit drug activity.
Federal officials have warned that counterfeit pills sold online frequently contain illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be deadly in small doses. Law enforcement agencies have reported increasing instances of traffickers using encrypted messaging applications and social media accounts to distribute drugs directly to buyers.
ONDCP did not announce new regulatory actions or enforcement measures following the roundtable but described the meeting as part of ongoing coordination between the federal government and private sector companies.