How the pandemic helped spread fentanyl across the US and drive opioid overdose deaths to a grim new high Posted byAndrew Kolodny November 22, 2021 Leave a comment on How the pandemic helped spread fentanyl across the US and drive opioid overdose deaths to a grim new high The number of fatal drug overdoses in the US over a 12-month period has surpassed 100,000 for the first time. Fentanyl is the main driver of the spike in deaths.