Opioid Crisis & Drug War News
The opioid and drug addiction crisis is reported by The Daily Signal with news, analysis, and commentary on border enforcement, drug policy, and public safety.
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America, You Have a Weed Problem
Marijuana is marketed and sold as medicine. Regular users claim any number of health benefits, from pain relief and increased sleep to anxiety relief. And users do giggle a lot, so they must be happy, right? When the science is separated from the hype, though, it becomes clear that marijuana is actually an anti-medicine. Most medicines have host of potential side effects, which pharmacies must list in fine print on packaging, and which prescribers are required…Anne Schlafly -
The Left Is Downplaying Reality of Fentanyl Crisis
The Left refuses to connect the dots between the fentanyl and border crises because it would require acknowledging that we have an open border. The truth of the matter is that the border crisis and fentanyl problem in America are directly related. Drug overdose or poisoning is the leading cause of death for Americans aged…Erin Dwinell -
The Biden Administration Has Been ‘Making the Fentanyl Crisis Worse,’ Republican Warns
OXON HILL, Md.—The crisis at the southern border is both unending and unrelenting. As The Daily Signal previously reported, more than 1 million migrants have been encountered at the southern border since the start of fiscal year 2023 on Oct. 1. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, recently traveled with…Samantha Aschieris -
‘This Is War,’ Mother of 2 Sons Killed by Fentanyl Testifies, Telling Congress to ‘Do Something’
Rebecca Kiessling struggled to speak as she told members of Congress about the deaths of her two adult sons, who were both killed by fentanyl in 2020. “You talk about welcoming those crossing our border seeking protection—[but] you’re welcoming drug dealers across our border, you’re giving them protection. You’re not protecting our children,” Kiessling…Virginia Allen -
‘It’s Really Like Poison,’ Former Drug Enforcement Agent Says of Fentanyl
Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin. How strong is that? It’s so strong that it only takes 2 milligrams—the equivalent of four grains of salt—to kill you, according to a former federal drug enforcement agent. Put another way, he says, 1 gram of fentanyl could potentially kill 500 people. “We got to make sure…Samantha Aschieris -
Rep. Michael Guest ‘Very Optimistic’ Bill to Address Fentanyl Crisis Will Receive Democrat Support
In fiscal year 2022, Customs and Border Protection seized more than 14,000 pounds of fentanyl. The lethal opioid drug has become a leading cause of death in adults ages 18-45. “The fentanyl seizures continue to increase, each fiscal year, and we know that of those seizures, we’re probably only apprehending 5% to 10% of the…Virginia Allen -
Why Fentanyl Is Killing So Many Americans
Two milligrams. That’s all the fentanyl it takes to be potentially lethal to the average adult in America, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It’s killing thousands of Americans, and it’s flooding into the country. More than 107,000 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in 2021, according to…Samantha Aschieris -
Neither Trick Nor Treat: What Parents Need to Know About ‘Rainbow Fentanyl’
The end of October is nearing, which means Halloween is just around the corner for many American kids. The holiday, known for trick or treating and consuming copious amounts of candy, is a bit spookier than normal this year: Parents now have to worry about the possibility of so-called rainbow fentanyl ending up in their…Samantha Aschieris -
Fentanyl: Too Dangerous to Trust Moscow With, but You Can Score Some in Middle School
The Commerce Department announced last week that from now on, the chemicals needed to make fentanyl can only be exported to Russia with a license. The Commerce Department considers them “potentially useful for Russia’s chemical and biological weapons production capabilities.” Meanwhile, also last week, a 13-year-old in Bakersfield, California, brought 150 fentanyl pills to his…Simon Hankinson -
‘Deadly’: Rep. Chip Roy Issues Warning on Fentanyl Crisis
A Texas congressman is sounding the alarm over how fatal even the smallest amount of fentanyl can be as the lethal drug continues to pour into the United States. “People don’t understand how deadly fentanyl is. A sugar packet, a Sweet’N Low packet of fentanyl could kill, in its pure form, all of the people…Samantha Aschieris -
How America’s Unsecured Border Contributes to Fentanyl Crisis, Deaths
Drug overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45. A total of 91,799 deaths from drug overdoses occurred in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Opioid drugs, such as fentanyl, were involved in 68,630, or 75%, of these overdose deaths. “It’s undisputed that the leading cause of deaths…Virginia Allen -
He Lost His Son to Opioids. Now This Father Addresses the Crisis in America.
Over 100,000 Americans die each year from opioid overdoses. One of them was 21-year-old Garrett Holman. His father, Don Holman, has worked ceaselessly to educate the public about the scourge of opioids and how they affected his family. “This tragedy ripped our family apart,” Holman says. “At this point in time, after losing my son,…Douglas Blair -
How Chaos at Border Fuels Opioid Crisis
The crisis at the southwest border continues to spiral out of control with U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently announcing a record 212,672 migrant encounters in July. The over 1.3 million encounters thus far in fiscal year 2021 is a stark reminder that the free-for-all along the border continues to rage unabated. >>> Watch: [The…Scott Erickson -
America Must Address Its Other Epidemic: Fentanyl Overdoses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that a record 93,331 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2020. Some 75% of them involved opioids, the latest sobering statistic in the United States’ 2 decades old opioid epidemic. Overuse and misuse of prescription opioids, and later heroin, drove the first two waves of the epidemic….Alexander Phipps -
Energy Department Facility Lost Track of Enough Fentanyl to Kill 1,750, Report Says
The Department of Energy’s National Laboratory in New Mexico misplaced or lost track of enough fentanyl four years ago to kill more than 1,000 people, according to a report in September from the DOE’s Inspector General. DOE’s facility obtained 50 grams of fentanyl on Feb. 2, 2015, the report noted before stating that the amount was not added to…Chris White -
Author Testifies That China Fails to Crack Down on Fentanyl
In testimony before a congressionally created panel that oversees U.S.-China economic and security issues, four specialists outlined negative implications of China’s expanding role in the global health care market. Award-winning investigative journalist Ben Westhoff, addressing the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, spoke on the dangers of China’s lucrative production of the drug fentanyl. Westhoff is the…Stone Washington -
China Is Poisoning America With Fentanyl
Fentanyl is now the leading cause of fatal drug overdoses. In 2017 alone, 49,000 Americans lost their lives to fentanyl. What is the source of the synthetic opioid, abuse of which leads to this senseless loss of life? China is the principal culprit. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has identified China as the primary source…Peyton Smith -
5 Key Themes at the First Lady’s Opioid Town Hall With Eric Bolling
First lady Melania Trump welcomed media attention to how the administration is confronting the opioid drug crisis during her appearance Wednesday at a “town hall” on the subject at Liberty University. That would be a change of approach, she said. “I would like that they’re focused more on what we’re doing, and what we want…Ginny Montalbano -
This 1 Item in the Opioid Bill Will Cause Problems
President Donald Trump recently signed into law the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act), which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. SUPPORT is an acronym for “Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment.” The new law will create new opioid treatment programs, provide better access to addiction treatment, and strengthen…Jonathan Zalewski -
In 5 Points, a Former Drug Czar’s Prescription to Combat Opioids and Pot
America needs leaders who will actively discourage recreational drug use and promote “meaningful prevention” and recovery, a former White House drug czar said in remarks to a Heritage Foundation audience. Public debate over opioid deaths and legalized marijuana could spur real change in how society approaches public health, Robert L. DuPont said in his appearance…Troy Worden