Commission Report Provides Action Items for Stopping Sales of Synthetic Opioids
On Tuesday, a report was released by the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, which was tasked under the National Defense Authorization Act to examine synthetic drug threats and develop a strategic approach to combat the illegal flow of sales across the country.
The commission is made up of seven executive branch departments and agencies, with four sitting members of both the Senate and the House, and four subject matter experts from the private sector.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. David Trone, D-Md., serve as co-chairs of the commission and write in the report that the problem of synthetic opioid sales is largely driven by cartels and transnational criminal organizations outside the U.S., many in Mexico, where the majority of the drugs are produced.
Since 1999, drug overdoses have killed approximately 1 million Americans — that’s more than the number of U.S. service members who have died in battle in all wars fought by the U.S.
The latest National Household Survey also estimates that 3 million Americans are currently living with opioid-use disorder, with millions more in recovery. The report includes five action items the U.S. can take to stop sales of synthetic opioids, such as bolstering capabilities to reduce supply reduction and strengthening oversight of chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
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