Trump to Launch Anti-Drug Campaign, Designates Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

On December 23, 2024, President-elect Trump (Trump) of the United States stated on Sunday (December 22) that he will launch a new anti-drug campaign to showcase the effects of drugs such as fentanyl on the body and once again threatened to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

During the annual conference of the conservative group “Turning Point USA” in Phoenix, Trump said, “We will promote how harmful drugs are to you. They will ruin your appearance, ruin your face, ruin your skin, ruin your teeth.”

Trump did not disclose the specifics of the advertising campaign, comparing it to a political movement and stating that a “large amount of money” will be spent on this project. However, Trump emphasized that compared to the losses caused by drugs, “this is just a very small cost.”

Trump’s transition team did not respond to requests for further clarification on the plan.

Trump’s plan appears to be quite similar to the “Just Say No” campaign led by former Republican First Lady Nancy Reagan in the 1980s. The “Just Say No” campaign aimed to encourage American youth to reject drugs and increase public awareness of drug abuse.

It is estimated that between 50,000 and 60,000 Americans will die from synthetic opioid overdoses this year, with the majority dying from fentanyl or closely related drugs.

Addressing the fentanyl crisis is a significant issue in Trump’s 2024 campaign. On Sunday, Trump reiterated his promise during the campaign: to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

“I will immediately designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” said Trump.

During his first term, Trump also planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, but this plan was put on hold at the request of then-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

During his campaign, Trump also stated that he would order the Pentagon to use special forces and launch cyber warfare operations to target the leadership, infrastructure, and smuggling operations of drug cartels once in office.