Fentanyl is becoming an increasing concern for law enforcement, healthcare and government leaders.
The US Department of Health and Human Services says fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can cause negative health effects including trouble breathing, dizziness, possible overdose and even death.
US Senator Roger Marshall put it another way:
There are over 40 illicitly manufactured fentanyl-related on the market — and that’s the confirmed number. Fentanyl is also laced into other drugs like marijuana or methamphetamine, increasing the risk of damaging health effects or death.
Marshall, Second District Congressman Jake LaTurner and other Republicans blame the Biden administration for not halting the fentanyl flow in its tracks, mainly by changing immigration policy to tighten the southern border with Mexico. LaTurner says America’s younger populations are really struggling with fentanyl’s effects.
Local law enforcement agencies have been taking steps to protect residents and officers from fentanyl. Earlier this year, Emporia Police announced a handful of fentanyl-connected overdoses since February 2021 and it recently gave officers special training on the use of Narcan to stop overdoses if possible.
Click here for a link to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s fentanyl website.
