Why is Fentanyl production not stopped? | NewsRadio 570 WKBN

While watching the program “The Godfather of Fentanyl” I learned that the drug was originally developed as a synthetic form of morphine. It is very useful in the medical field, especially for anesthesia, because it can effectively manage the sedation and recovery of the patient.

However, I also learned that illegal fentanyl is alarmingly easy to obtain through certain illegal channels. Sometimes a dealer will even offer a free sample if you give him your phone number.

Once someone has tried fentanyl, the chances of becoming a repeat user are extremely high. Fentanyl is more addictive than heroin, leading to cravings almost every hour.

The danger of the drug is further compounded by the fact that fentanyl is often mixed inconsistently, creating dangerous hot spots that can be deadly if mixed into a pill.

What chance do we have of preventing this deadly drug from entering the United States? We’ve had a hard time getting heroin under control, and if heroin in bulk can be reduced from 25 pounds to just 1 pound, fentanyl poses an even greater challenge.

In addition to the huge number of American deaths, Mexican drug cartels profit enormously from this trade. They also smuggle American weapons to protect their illegal operations.

About 50 percent of the fentanyl that enters the U.S. comes through legal border crossings. Customs and Border Patrol are doing their best, but they openly admit that significant amounts of fentanyl are slipping through.

So why can’t this crisis be stopped? Why is there no consensus among governments to put an end to it? Part of the answer lies in the production of fentanyl: 95% of the chemicals used to make it come from communist China. These chemicals are advertised on the dark web, and a reporter has even visited the labs.

The Chinese government could stop the shipment of these chemicals immediately if they wanted to. Unfortunately, most actions against this trade only occur with the permission of the Chinese authorities. Even though we know the identities of the Chinese drug lords, our lack of an extradition treaty with China limits our ability to take action.

These chemicals are sent to Mexico, where they are processed into fentanyl and eventually end up on American streets. Yet we continue to give China most favored nation status and trade with them, even though their chemicals contribute to the deaths of 100,000 Americans every year.

This problem has been going on for four years under the Biden-Harris administration, but there appears to be little initiative or action to stop chemical suppliers from helping Mexican cartels.

Given the gravity of the situation, it is crucial to consider whether a change in leadership is needed. Donald J. Trump may be able to address this problem more effectively. He would demand that Chinese leaders stop the flow of these chemicals if they want to continue trading legitimately with the United States.

To current diplomats managing relations with China: Why isn’t this issue a top priority? To put it in perspective, the U.S. lost 58,000 lives in a decade in the Vietnam War, about 6,000 in Afghanistan and Iraq, and about 3,000 in the World Trade Center attacks. Yet we now lose about 100,000 Americans to fentanyl overdoses every year.

This crisis demands a joint, urgent response.

Then Rivers

570 WKBN