To the Editor:
Preliminary federal knowledge that reviews a slight drop in annual opioid overdose deaths gives a small measure of hope. However it’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 many 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, regulation enforcement seized over 115 million drugs that contained illicit fentanyl. The omnipresence of high-potency fentanyl and different artificial opioids in our drug provide continues to drive unprecedented situations of drug poisoning in communities throughout the nation. That’s why focusing intently on prevention and inspiring strong conversations with family members in regards to the risks of the drug provide stay key.
As a substitute of victory laps, we must always redouble our efforts to spend money on revolutionary overdose reversal drugs that particularly reply to artificial opioids, like fentanyl, and we must always encourage states to get these sources into the palms of public well being suppliers and group leaders on the entrance strains 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 current Occasions e-newsletter reporting fewer deaths from fentanyl overdoses in 2023 than in 2022, the writer, German Lopez, proposed that we are able to velocity up the decline in deaths if we “higher coordinate with China” to cut back the move of fentanyl into the U.S.
Nevertheless, it’s the Chinese language Communist Social gathering that’s actively driving this disaster, because the Home committee that I chair just lately revealed in a bipartisan report. The Chinese language authorities subsidizes the export of illicit narcotics which can be unlawful to supply beneath Chinese language regulation. It offers authorities grants to drug traffickers. Chinese language state-owned enterprises brazenly facilitate the export of illicit narcotics certain for the U.S.
Whilst China claims to cooperate with us to stem the move of fentanyl and its components at the moment, its chemical producers are already transferring on to the subsequent part of the disaster — nitazenes and xylazine, which might be stronger and fewer conscious of Narcan.
Fentanyl and different illicit narcotics are killing extra People annually than had been killed within the bloodiest yr of World Warfare II. Till we tackle the foundation explanation for the supply-driven disaster — the Chinese language Communist Social gathering actively addicting and killing People — we is not going to cease this lethal epidemic. We’ve got 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 the US and the Chinese language Communist Social gathering.
To the Editor:
“Has Fentanyl Peaked?” gives a glimmer of hope within the opioid disaster that’s ravaging our nation, communities and households. Nevertheless, the article doesn’t focus on some essential elements contributing to the decline in overdose deaths: training, prevention packages and bipartisan state-level laws.
“Proper to know” legal guidelines mandate discussions between medical doctors and their sufferers in regards to the dangers of dependency when opioids are prescribed and the supply of safer alternate options. This proactive measure was first made into regulation in New Jersey and now has been adopted by 20 different states.
Prevention packages in colleges, workplaces and public areas are essential for serving to individuals make the selection to guide drug-free lives.
Whereas elevated entry to Narcan and habit therapy is important, training and legislative measures are essential to hold these numbers transferring in the correct path. It’s by means of these complete, community-focused methods that we are able to 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 total lower in dying charges, overdose deaths amongst Black People have traditionally elevated — with the latest knowledge displaying a 7.5 p.c improve from 2021 to 2022.
I just lately moderated a panel on Capitol Hill discussing the impression of the overdose disaster on Black People and outlining coverage options to finish racial inequities in overdose therapy 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 in regards to the disparity in overdose deaths.
Any win on this struggle is price celebrating — however allow us to even be cleareyed about the established order and the work left to perform. By acknowledging the unequal impression 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 Turned the Overdose Capital” (entrance web page, Might 25):
The Occasions’s investigative story about Baltimore’s outrageously excessive overdose deaths is a tragic reminder of how governments can simply neglect about essentially 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 data of how dire the town’s overdose dying fee had turn into proves this level.
That the town’s consideration was drawn to different crises, just like the pandemic and homicides, doesn’t excuse its failure to adequately tackle 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 actual fact they didn’t have sufficient sources to take action and sought exterior assist.
That the mayor makes an attempt responsible pharmaceutical corporations and opioids for the fentanyl overdoses is a tragic case of making an attempt to shift blame quite than accepting accountability and doing one thing. Maybe the Occasions story will encourage Baltimore voters to hunt higher governance for his or her metropolis.
Joseph P. Petito
Bethesda, Md.
