Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
Opioid Drug War
A Blog about Synthetic Opioids 2021
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Federal and more specifically Synthetic Opioids 2021 as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Federal
This should be a fairly limited bills area for management the overall structures like highways, military, federal buildings, federal laws, and the like. However it has become the micro manager of all micro managers. They get involved in areas that no federal government should be involved in, and shift more power upward. This has led to each party trying to run over the other party in the eyes of the voters, all the while doing everything possible to maintain their power. They do this by holding onto all of the money, and claiming they know best how it should be spent. But they run debts so badly that no one should be looking to them as an example of anything other than the way to overspend and go further into debt.
Summary of Synthetic Opioids 2021
Extension of deadline for report on opioid trafficking.
Blog Summary
This blog merely extended the time before the commission's report is due. But read the blog to learn more about the war on synthetic opioids.
Opioid Drug War
Published: 2022-05-03
Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking
Time is extended from 270 days to 390 days.
This act established a 14 person commission to define the core objectives and priorities for a strategic approach to combat the flow of synthetic opioids into the United States. We all know how well the war on drugs has worked. Statistics from the cfah.org show the following:
- Ecstasy usage per 1,000 has gone from 14,280 in 2009 to 18,459 in 2016;
- Cocaine usage per 1,000 has gone from 36,742 in 2009 to 38,880 in 2016;
- Crack usage per 1,000 has gone from 8,390 in 2009 to 8,776 in 2016;
- Methamphetamine usage per 1,000 has gone from 12,908 in 2009 to 14,533 in 2016;
- Heroin usage per 1,000 has gone from 3,683 in 2009 to 4,981 in 2016; and
- Heroin dependence per 1,000 has gone from 214 in 2002 to 626 in 2016
Interestingly, among teens depressants, opioids, and antidepressants make up 45% of overdose deaths. That is more than heron, cocaine, methamphetamine and amphetamines combined. But cocaine usage has been on a steady rise in usage.
The commission is to weight costs and benefits of option to combat the flow of synthetic opioids from China, Mexico and other countries. And the best means for implementing the options. They are to report on the deficiencies in regulation of pharmaceutical and chemical production of controlled substances and export controls. I sincerely hope they will not throw more roadblocks in the way for individuals that are legally prescribed medications. I know certain individuals that are required to see a pain management specialist at least monthly in order to be able to get medications that are necessary for them. This merely increases the cost to them in medical expenses. They now are required to see the doctor prescribing the medication, as well as another individual in pain management who is often not an md. My dogs were on pain medications and I even had to sign paperwork advising that I understood their HIPAA rights and that since they were on a controlled substance, the information was required to be shared.
They even get to determine if another structure, I hear a new agency, might be useful to ensure all rules are followed. While I agree that the influx of illegal drugs is not good, and that it is sad whenever someone becomes addicted because so many lives are affected; I do not agree that we need another agency or department or group to deal with synthetic opioids. Our war on drugs has not ended in less usage; and clearly there are now people who feel that too many are harshly punished for their distribution and usage in the jail system. We should already have agencies dealing with drug trafficking, this is just the current drug that is peaking in the trafficking. Perhaps if we had better control over the border we would have less incoming, or catching more of that attempting to get across.
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