OPINION:
If there is enough fentanyl in this country to kill 470 million people, what will it take to get this administration’s attention regarding the necessity for stronger border security (“July border stunner: Enough fentanyl to kill every American,” Web, Aug. 16)? Even for those of us who experienced the damage done to families during the crack-cocaine era of the 1980s, this will exceed those tragic results beyond imagination. Why are our federal security agencies not receiving the highest level of resources? As a taxpayer I’m totally in favor of it. It is inexcusable to allow foreign countries to exploit the underfunding of enforcement of our water, air and land ports of entry.
If these numbers are true, there is no way of slowing down a new generation of drug addicts. There are not enough rehabillitation centers existing to handle this surge. Maybe that’s why we see more and more addicts on our streets and such increases in criminal behavior by addicts to pay for the drugs. It’s even more disheartening that the best solution is giving addicts and users the tools to manage the addiction themselves.
This is not the fault of local governments; it is a matter of national security, which is the responsibility of congressional leaders. Now is not the time for politics or optics. We need stiffer international laws, diplomatic penalties, a total freezing of all assets and a loss of federal financial assistance to countries that refuse to stop production and shipment of fentanyl.
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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