Many experts believe that US military action against the cartels, which Trump also proposed during his first termwould do little to curb fentanyl smuggling or save American lives, but could shatter diplomatic ties and destabilize Mexico.

“It’s pretty hard to control fentanyl because it’s so easy for the illegal supply chains to produce and distribute it,” Caulkins said.

Experts say cartels or other drug gangs can easily rebuild illegal drug labs after they are destroyed and can operate from almost any location. A recent one investigation by CBC News noted that fentanyl production in Canada has already increased, with a growing number of “superlabs” now operating north of the US border.

In one criticism published, last weekthe libertarian Cato Institute said that launching military strikes in Mexico to target fentanyl production would lead to a “grim” without stemming “the flow of drugs across America’s southern border.”

Experts have also condemned Trump’s plan to implement the death penalty for drug dealers, pointing out that many people who experience addiction in the United States also deal and sell drugs to support their habit.

“There are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of Americans who are our neighbors doing something illegal and dealing drugs,” said Brandon Del Pozo, a former police chief who studies drug policy at Brown University.

“The idea that we could execute them? It shocks the conscience.”

Some experts said they believe Trump may implement a more moderate drug policy, toning down his strategy now that the campaign is over.

“You have very tough rhetoric, but then the actual policy is more of a bipartisan consensus that is really a balanced policy,” said Kevin Sabet, a longtime substance abuse policy researcher.

Sabet noted it Trump signed a bipartisan measure in 2018 to increase funding for certain drug treatment programs. “I’m actually coming into this with a sense of hope,” he said.

But Frederique with the Drug Policy Alliance predicted that Trump will try to implement many of his most aggressive ideas in hopes of a quick end to the crisis.

“Somebody tells you we’re just going to turn off the faucet, cut the supply chain, arrest all the people and then we don’t have to deal with this anymore,” Frederique said. “While it may be attractive to people, it’s a mirage.”