(RepublicanDaily.org) – Illegal drugs pose dangerous threats to individuals, communities, and society as a whole. While there’s a significant amount of variation from one substance to the next, nearly all carry the risk of harmful side effects.
On the lower end of the scale you have cannabis, which is now legal in many states and is regarded as relatively safe for most users. On the other end of the spectrum are highly addictive substances like heroin and fentanyl. These can quickly ruin the lives of people unfortunate enough to get hooked. That’s why one recent narcotics seizure is so concerning.
The Border Crisis Meets the Drug Crisis
While record numbers of illegal immigrants attempt to cross month after month, what’s not getting as much coverage is the fact that many people traffic in drugs, too. On Tuesday, August 10, Border Patrol officers based in Southern California announced the seizure of approximately $13 million worth of methamphetamine and fentanyl. A Mexican national reportedly attempted to smuggle the drugs into the US in a tractor-trailer that was supposed to be carrying just household plastic goods. According to reports, this was the largest ever seizure of methamphetamine on the southwest border at 5,528 pounds.
Why Fentanyl Is Such a Threat
While this most recent shipment contained methamphetamine, the presence of fentanyl is arguably of greater concern. The synthetic opioid is incredibly dangerous; a dose as small as two milligrams can be lethal. A kilo (2.2 pounds) therefore has the potential to kill up to half a million people. Border officials found 127 pounds of fentanyl in this most recent seizure.
Compounding this problem is the fact opioids are highly addictive. Once a user becomes accustomed to the presence of the drugs in their system, they’ll risk their lives to stay high and avoid withdrawals, ultimately needing and seeking larger doses to achieve the same effect. That’s why there were almost 50,000 deaths from opioid overdoses in America in 2019 alone.
Remember, we can only report on the drugs border officials actually find. It’s likely far greater quantities are passing into the country completely unnoticed.
So, what’s the solution? Many addiction experts agree the best way to address the drug crisis is by looking at underlying social problems and educating people about the dangers of drug use, but these are long-term strategies. Right now, undocumented migrants are pouring into the country and many are bringing drugs, ready to turn a profit by foisting their product on struggling Americans. The Biden administration allows this to continue every day. Enough is enough.
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