Originally published May 23, 2023 10:01 am PDT
On Monday, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) raised concerns about the devastating impacts of fentanyl, which is reportedly causing the death of about 300 Americans daily.
As a response to this alarming issue, Rep. Greene introduced an amendment to H.R. 467, advocating for the death penalty for criminals knowingly importing fentanyl across the U.S. Southern border.
“Fentanyl is the leading killer of young people, aged 18-34, in America,” Rep. Greene stated in a recent tweet.
Backing her claims, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) further highlights the severity of the fentanyl crisis.
“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.
The statement underlines the pervasive reach of the synthetic opioid, asserting that “fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison.”
The DEA website also provided staggering data, illustrating the scale of the issue: “Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide and other accidents.”
In light of this, Rep. Greene’s amendment aims to intensify legal repercussions for those found guilty of contributing to the circulation of the deadly drug.
Her proposed legislation reflects a hardline stance against drug traffickers, suggesting that they bear significant responsibility for the rising fentanyl overdose deaths.
“We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day,” urges DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.
Illicit fentanyl, according to the DEA, is the primary driver behind the recent increase in U.S. drug overdose deaths.
The agency and Rep. Greene both advocate for stronger measures to combat the crisis and save American lives.
Fentanyl is smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border in low-concentration, high-volume loads.
In fiscal year 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found and confiscated over 50,000 pounds of fentanyl crossing the southern border.
