(TNS) KFF Well being Information
“We’re dropping 300,000 folks a 12 months to fentanyl that comes by means of our border. We had it right down to the bottom quantity and now it’s worse than it’s ever been.”
— Former President Donald Trump at a July 24 marketing campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina
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Former President Donald Trump claimed at a latest marketing campaign rally that greater than 300,000 Individuals are dying annually from the artificial opioid drug fentanyl, and that the variety of fentanyl overdoses was the “lowest” throughout his administration and has skyrocketed since.
“We’re dropping 300,000 folks a 12 months to fentanyl that comes by means of our border,” Trump advised his supporters at a July 24 marketing campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. “We had it right down to the bottom quantity and now it’s worse than it’s ever been,” he mentioned.
Trump’s figures seem to don’t have any foundation in reality. Authorities statistics present the number of drug overdose deaths per 12 months is hovering round 100,000 to 110,000, with opioid-related deaths at about 81,000. That’s sufficient that the federal government has labeled opioid-related overdoses an “epidemic,” however nowhere near the quantity Trump cited.
Furthermore, although the variety of opioid deaths has risen since Trump left workplace, it’s incorrect to say they have been the “lowest” whereas he was president.
Numbers Are Excessive, however Nowhere Close to Trump’s Declare
Trump marketing campaign nationwide press secretary Karoline Leavitt wouldn’t remark particularly on the supply for Trump’s statistics. She as an alternative despatched KFF Well being Information an email with several bullet points in regards to the opioid disaster beneath the heading: “DRUGS ARE POURING OVER HARRIS’ OPEN BORDER INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.”
One such bullet famous that there have been “112,000 deadly drug overdoses” final 12 months and linked to a narrative from NPR reporting that reality — straight rebutting Trump’s personal declare of 300,000 fentanyl deaths. Moreover, the quantity NPR reported is an total determine, not for fentanyl-related deaths solely.
More recent government figures estimated that there have been 107,543 complete drug overdose deaths in 2023, with an estimated 74,702 of these involving fentanyl. These figures have been according to what consultants on the subject advised KFF Well being Information.
“The variety of precise deaths might be considerably increased,” mentioned Andrew Kolodny, medical director for the Opioid Coverage Analysis Collaborative at Brandeis College, noting that many such overdose deaths go uncounted by authorities researchers.
“However I don’t know the place one would get that variety of 300,000,” Kolodny added.
Trump’s declare that fentanyl deaths have been the “lowest” throughout his administration and at the moment are worse than ever can also be off the mark.
Overdose deaths — particularly these from artificial opioids similar to fentanyl — began climbing steadily within the Nineties. When Trump took workplace in January 2017, the variety of overdose deaths associated to artificial opioids was about 21,000. By January 2021, when he left the White Home, that tally was nearing 60,000, information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System exhibits. Deaths involving artificial opioids continued to extend after Trump left workplace.
“There’s some fact to saying that there are extra Individuals dying [of opioids] than ever earlier than,” Kolodny mentioned. “However once more, in the event you have been to have a look at developments throughout the Trump administration, deaths simply just about saved getting worse.”
Within the final 12 months, although, statistics present that overdose numbers have plateaued or fallen barely, although it’s too quickly to say whether or not that development will maintain.
Provided that Trump’s claims about fentanyl got here when discussing the southern border “invasion,” it’s price noting that, according to the U.S. government, the overwhelming majority of fentanyl caught being smuggled into the nation illegally comes by way of authorized ports of entry. Furthermore, nearly 90% of individuals convicted of fentanyl drug trafficking in 2022 have been U.S. residents, an evaluation by the Cato Institute, a libertarian suppose tank, confirmed. That 12 months, U.S. residents acquired 12 instances as many fentanyl trafficking convictions as did immigrants who have been within the U.S. with out authorization, the evaluation confirmed.
Our Ruling
Trump mentioned, “We’re dropping 300,000 folks a 12 months to fentanyl that comes by means of our border. We had it right down to the bottom quantity and now it’s worse than it’s ever been.”
Annual U.S. fentanyl deaths have elevated since he left workplace, however Trump’s declare about 300,000 deaths has no foundation in reality and is contradicted by figures his press secretary shared.
Trump is flawed to claim that overdoses have been the bottom when he was president. Furthermore, Trump continues to hyperlink fentanyl trafficking to unlawful immigration — a declare statistics don’t help.
We charge Trump’s declare Pants on Fireplace!
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(KFF Health News is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is likely one of the core working applications of KFF — the unbiased supply for well being coverage analysis, polling and journalism.)
©2024 KFF Well being Information. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.
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