As Mrs. Central Florida I am a representative of Victoria’s Voice, a foundation on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. In this post I aim to give you some context and history involving the epidemic. I also want to offer some solutions if you are interested. Community involvement and awareness is a key to ending this epidemic. It will take a lot of work; much of it policy based- but there are things everyday Americans can do. Sharing this post is one! ~Lydia
1 million
One million souls. 1 Million brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, mothers, and fathers gone. Since 1999 drug overdoses have killed nearly 1 million Americans. You may be someone directly affected, perhaps someone you dearly loved is in the 1 million.
Of the million, the majority of them were male. More than half of the million fell in the age range of 25-44. 70% of them died from an opioid overdose. Yes, 70% of drug overdoses since 1999 involved an opioid. Every year the death rates increase, across all genders, races, and ethnicities. Every year the rate of opioid death increases, with synthetic opioids now the number one killer.
In the late 1990’s pharmaceutical companies and the health care industry began to heavily market and prescribe highly addictive painkillers, marking the beginning of the opioid epidemic. Over the last two decades opioid abuse has grown, steadily. Today, the source of most illicit opioids is Fentanyl.
In 2021 more than 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, making drug overdoses the number one cause of death for adults 18-50. “Increased drug trafficking in the U.S. has led to an epidemic level of overdoses surpassing car accidents and firearms as the leading cause of injury and death among Americans.” (7)
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, approved by the FDA mid 20th century to be used as a painkiller for cancer patients. It is highly potent. “It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.” (6) Such a small dose is needed, in fact anything over 2 milligrams can be deadly. It’s high potency and small dosage requirements are one of the reasons it has become the drug of choice of illegal smugglers. It’s much easier to smuggle small amounts of fentanyl, compared to larger amounts of other drugs that would fetch the same price on the black market.
Why Fentanyl?
Fentanyl has replaced other opioids because regulation of the pharmaceutical industry and other government programs have lead to a reduction in other opioid sources. Additionally, the legalization of Marijuana in many states has cut into the profit margins of illegal drug dealers. Marijuana is no longer a cash crop, so cartels and dealers have switched to Fentanyl; it is so much more profitable for them. “Legalization of cannabis in the U.S. has meant it is less profitable to foreign drug cartels. So cartels have turned to a more lucrative drug- synthetic heroin-Fentanyl.” (8) Fentanyl is cheap to manufacture and easily “cut in” or added to other drugs. It can be disguised and sold as other drugs, like OxyContin.
Where does it come from?
The majority of illicit Fentanyl found in the U.S. makes it way here via the Southern Border. The U.S.- Mexican boarder is the number one source of all illegal Fentanyl and other drugs. But, Mexico isn’t the primary source of the illegal Fentanyl; it’s China. Think of Mexico and Mexican cartels as the middle men in the Fentanyl trade. Most of it is manufactured in China and then shipped to Mexico. Although in the last few years Chinese enterprises have begun shipping the raw materials to make Fentanyl to Mexican cartels, then the cartels actually produce it themselves. From there is it smuggled across the southern border, at check points and across private lands.
“The asylum seekers become decoys”
The massive number of migrants needing to be processed puts a strain on government agencies, essentially freeing up opportunities for drug smugglers. The fact that the border is a major source of illicit drugs is a fact that cannot be ignored. There is a crisis at the border, a humanitarian crisis. This crisis is a direct cause of the current opioid epidemic and the resulting deaths. The border doesn’t exist in a vacuum and it is not the only cause of the epidemic, but it’s importance in this issue is undeniable. Any efforts to stop the opioid epidemic domestically, are quickly underscored by the massive amounts of international smuggling bringing a flood of these drugs into the country.
Everyday Solutions
As a nation, society, community what can we do? What solution can we offer each other to fight this issue. When do we say enough and become involved in our community? When do we realize fighting this epidemic is just as important as fighting other epidemics like Covid? I say now, and I can offer you some solutions.
First, you can support a charity that I am currently working with Victoria’s Voice. Victoria’s Voice focuses on drug policy change, Naloxone access, and drug education. Through my role as Mrs. Central Florida I am a representative of Victoria’s Voice.
Second, you can support proposed legislation “The Preventing Overdoses and Saving Lives Act.” This legislation is supported by Victoria’s Voice. It is bi-partisan, sponsored by Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI). Consider writing a letter to your congressman/woman voicing your support. My Civics Club students and I will be writing letters for it this week.
Third, you can vocalize your support for legislation and policy that addresses issues at the southern border.
Sources:
- https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2021/04/27/dea-launches-project-wave-breaker-stop-flood-deadly-fentanyl-1
- https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-operational-fiscal-year-2021-statistics
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm
- https://www.npr.org/2021/12/30/1069062738/more-than-a-million-americans-have-died-from-overdoses-during-the-opioid-epidemi
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db428.htm
- U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission, August 24, 2021
- https://drugabuse.com/featured/drug-trafficking-across-borders/
- https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/10/18/fentanyl-smuggling-us-mexico-border-marijuana-profits-fade/
- https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html
