Comment: Fentanyl crisis in U.S. requires broad response

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Christopher Tang and Thomas Choi / For the Chicago Tribune

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has created a major public health crisis in the United States. One of the most pressing questions our leaders face is: How can government at the federal and state level deter the flow of illicit fentanyl? By developing a multipronged supply chain strategy that controls the demand and stamps out the supply.

For now, China has agreed to curb the flow of fentanyl to the U.S., as well as the chemical precursors for producing fentanyl that it sends to Mexico. Moving forward, the U.S. must seek global support to develop a comprehensive plan to combat the fentanyl crisis.

Overdoses from fentanyl, a drug that is 50 times more powerful than heroin, were a leading cause of death among Americans ages 18 to 45 in 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The issue of fentanyl addiction and overdose has the potential to escalate into a global crisis. While other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries such as Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom have seen an uptick in opioid consumption, it has not reached the same levels as that in the U.S. and Canada.

In efforts to combat the crisis, lawmakers in the U.S. have passed several policies and regulations. For instance, some states have imposed harsher sentencing, and other states have considered imposing the death sentence for distribution.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-fentanyl-crisis-in-u-s-requires-broad-response/

[Stargazer99]

1. I think the lack of sufficient income and the stresses capitalism forces on those vulnerable

contributes to a lot of drugging to relieve the sense of desperation many people feel in this country. We as as a society just don't want to deal with the problem, it might upset the monies to fix the mess uncontrolled capitalism has created. I come from a generation that could find work and good pay because of unions, purchase a home, have retirement benefits, medical and dental benefits, go to college if one wanted without taking out a predatory loan. Now days only the well to do can experience this security.