Stop fentanyl deaths

by Richard Coleman, Hamilton

150 people die every day from synthetic opioids. In 2022, 88% drug overdose deaths were caused by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. It is estimated that 122,072 people will die in 2023 from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are causing deaths at an alarming rate in the United States.  

How do we stop the sale and distribution of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids? Let’s look at other countries that do not have problems with production and distribution of fentanyl and synthetic opioids like the United States. 

The following countries do not tolerate drugs and have very harsh penalties (death) for having or peddling drugs: Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, North Korea, Philippines, Turkey, Costa Rica, Columbia, United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Japan. 

Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador depicted the synthetic opioid epidemic largely as a U.S. problem.

In the United States, listed by offense type, the medium penalties are: Murder 17.5 years, Rape 7.2 years, Drug Trafficking 17 months, Drug Possession 9 months.

18 U.S. Code 1111 defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought, perpetrated by poison, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated killing. Federal law only provides two sentences for first degree murder: life imprisonment or the death penalty. Juvenile offenders: life in prison without parole or a minimum of 60 years, possibility of parole after 25 to 40 years.

Drug dealers that provide poisonous drugs are killing people and should be charged with first degree murder.

Federal and State politicians in the United States want to fight the distribution of poisonous drugs (fentanyl and other synthetic opioids) with more police and equipment like bulletproof vests.  

The fight against illegal drugs starts with stiffer Federal and State laws and penalties for the distributing, selling or peddling poisonous synthetic opioids to U.S. citizens including children.

It would appear that the approach to ending drug distribution is to revise

U.S. drug penalties. 

Drug manufacturers and dealers are making and distributing poisons that kill people. The federal sentencing guidelines of 18 U.S. Code 1111 should be applied nationwide.