To the Editor:
Preliminary federal knowledge that reviews a slight drop in annual opioid overdose deaths affords a small measure of hope. But it surely’s no trigger for celebration, regardless of what The Morning e-newsletter (“Has Fentanyl Peaked?,” nytimes.com, Might 21) seems to recommend.
For the hundreds of thousands of American households who’ve misplaced family members all through this disaster — and for individuals who will proceed to expertise the traumatic impacts of the epidemic — small reductions in yearly overdose deaths don’t sign the top of this public well being emergency.
In 2023, legislation enforcement seized over 115 million pills that contained illicit fentanyl. The omnipresence of high-potency fentanyl and different artificial opioids in our drug provide continues to drive unprecedented cases of drug poisoning in communities throughout the nation. That’s why focusing intently on prevention and inspiring sturdy conversations with family members concerning the risks of the drug provide stay key.
As an alternative of victory laps, we must always redouble our efforts to spend money on progressive overdose reversal medicines that particularly reply to artificial opioids, like fentanyl, and we must always encourage states to get these assets into the fingers of public well being suppliers and neighborhood leaders on the entrance traces of this ongoing disaster.
Mary Bono
Durango, Colo.
The author is the chair and C.E.O. of Moms Towards Prescription Drug Abuse and a former member of Congress.
To the Editor:
In a latest Instances e-newsletter reporting fewer deaths from fentanyl overdoses in 2023 than in 2022, the writer, German Lopez, proposed that we will velocity up the decline in deaths if we “higher coordinate with China” to cut back the circulate of fentanyl into the U.S.
Nonetheless, it’s the Chinese language Communist Celebration that’s actively driving this disaster, because the Home committee that I chair lately revealed in a bipartisan report. The Chinese language authorities subsidizes the export of illicit narcotics which are unlawful to supply below Chinese language legislation. It offers authorities grants to drug traffickers. Chinese language state-owned enterprises brazenly facilitate the export of illicit narcotics certain for the U.S.
At the same time as China claims to cooperate with us to stem the circulate of fentanyl and its components as we speak, its chemical producers are already transferring on to the following part of the disaster — nitazenes and xylazine, which might be stronger and fewer aware of Narcan.
Fentanyl and different illicit narcotics are killing extra People annually than have been killed within the bloodiest 12 months of World Struggle II. Till we deal with the basis reason for the supply-driven disaster — the Chinese language Communist Celebration actively addicting and killing People — we won’t cease this lethal epidemic. We have now tried speaking. It’s time for Congress and the Biden administration to behave.
John Moolenaar
Caledonia, Mich.
The author is a Republican consultant from Michigan who’s chairman of the Home Choose Committee on the Strategic Competitors Between america and the Chinese language Communist Celebration.
To the Editor:
“Has Fentanyl Peaked?” affords a glimmer of hope within the opioid disaster that’s ravaging our nation, communities and households. Nonetheless, the article doesn’t talk about some essential components contributing to the decline in overdose deaths: schooling, prevention packages and bipartisan state-level laws.
“Proper to know” legal guidelines mandate discussions between docs and their sufferers concerning the dangers of dependency when opioids are prescribed and the provision of safer alternate options. This proactive measure was first made into law in New Jersey and now has been adopted by 20 different states.
Prevention packages in faculties, workplaces and public areas are essential for serving to folks make the selection to guide drug-free lives.
Whereas elevated entry to Narcan and habit remedy is important, schooling and legislative measures are essential to preserve these numbers transferring in the best course. It’s via these complete, community-focused methods that we will hope to maintain and speed up the decline in overdose deaths.
Angelo M. Valente
Hoboken, N.J.
The author is government director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
To the Editor:
On Might 16, you printed a headline that includes a bit of excellent information: “Overdose Deaths Dropped for the First Time in 5 Years.”
However this headline doesn’t inform the entire story. Although it’s true that preliminary 2023 knowledge was indicative of an general lower in demise charges, overdose deaths amongst Black People have traditionally elevated — with the newest knowledge exhibiting a 7.5 percent increase from 2021 to 2022.
I lately moderated a panel on Capitol Hill discussing the affect of the overdose disaster on Black People and outlining coverage options to finish racial inequities in overdose remedy and fatalities. Implementing these insurance policies would require buy-in from each the general public and elected officers, and this should begin with mainstream media doing their half to boost consciousness concerning the disparity in overdose deaths.
Any win on this struggle is value celebrating — however allow us to even be cleareyed about the established order and the work left to perform. By acknowledging the unequal affect the overdose disaster has on Black People, the media can contribute to raised well being outcomes for all.
Yolonda C. Richardson
Washington
The author is president and C.E.O. of the Marketing campaign for Tobacco-Free Youngsters.
To the Editor:
Re “How Baltimore Became the Overdose Capital” (entrance web page, Might 25):
The Instances’s investigative story about Baltimore’s outrageously excessive overdose deaths is a tragic reminder of how governments can simply neglect about probably the most susceptible. That is very true for addicts, who usually don’t vote.
That Baltimore’s mayor and different elected metropolis officers professed no information of how dire town’s overdose demise charge had develop into proves this level.
That town’s consideration was drawn to different crises, just like the pandemic and homicides, doesn’t excuse its failure to adequately deal with drug overdoses. Baltimore definitely is succesful, or needs to be succesful, of coping with a number of points, if it desired to take action. At a minimal, officers ought to have drawn consideration to the very fact they didn’t have sufficient assets to take action and sought outdoors assist.
That the mayor makes an attempt accountable pharmaceutical corporations and opioids for the fentanyl overdoses is a tragic case of attempting to shift blame somewhat than accepting accountability and doing one thing. Maybe the Instances story will inspire Baltimore voters to hunt higher governance for his or her metropolis.
Joseph P. Petito
Bethesda, Md.
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