In a statement, the Drug Enforcement Administration on Friday announced that the federal government will release six new enforcement teams that will help in combating the drug & fentanyl creeping in the streets of the U.S.
The primary aim behind the formation of these teams is to treat the overdose crisis that has hit the America at its worst in many years. The department plans to release these Drug Enforcement Administration forces in Massachusetts, West Virginia, North Carolina, New York and Ohio.
After thorough research, the Drug Enforcement Administration concluded these six locations. The results were based on a study of rising death rates and seizure cases because of the excessive use of opioids and other drugs. The cities will start their project with a geographic study of the region for opioid and heroin overdose.
The Acting Administrator of DEA, Robert Patterson, told the press in a conference, “At a time when overdose deaths are at catastrophic levels, the DEA’s top priority is addressing the opioid epidemic and pursuing the criminal organizations that distribute their poison to our neighborhoods. These teams will enhance DEA’s ability to combat trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogs and the violence associated with drug trafficking.”
The rate of deaths caused by drug overdose has horrifically increased in India, as per a report published by the National Center for Health Studies, in 1999, a total of 10,000 deaths were caused because of a drug overdose. The number kept on increasing with 20,145 deaths in 2015, and 64,000 deaths in 2016. The report further states that out of these deaths over 54% deaths were caused due to fentanyl abuse.
On Thursday, the President of United Nations, Donald Trump declared opioid crisis as a public health emergency and focused on the importance of pressing over the abuse of fentanyl and heroin abuse. He said that one of the primary reasons he strongly supports the decision of making the wall is to put a check on the illegal drugs from entering the U.S.
In his speech, Trump said, “This epidemic is a national health emergency. Nobody has seen anything like what is going on now.”
However, the critics say that instead of calling it a public health emergency, Trump would have named it National health emergency. If he would have done so, the response to the problem would have been more rapid and intense.
America also celebrated National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday. Earlier in his speech, Trump also encouraged the Americans to dispose their leftover drug on the occasion of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Sadly, the program was not a great success. The motive was to encourage people to dispose of they’re used, unwanted and old medications but not many citizens turned in for the cause.
The fentanyl epidemic is worst like never before. Thankfully there are some efficient rehabilitation facilities that are offering result-oriented and qualitative treatments to drug addicts. However, the major concern is the slow turn in the rate of the people as they doubt the authenticity of such treatment programs.