The Centers for Disease Control states that in 2016-17, opioid-related drug use killed 47,000 Americans, 130 deaths daily, and a 21 percent increase since 2015.
Lost wages, emergency treatment and addiction counseling totaled $115 billion in 2017, a 600 percent increase since 1999.
A 2018 NPR article cites a Federal Drug Administration analysis finding 93 percent of heroin originated from Mexico in 2015.
Sarah Carter’s documentary, “Not In Vein,” demonstrates grotesque, deadly drug trafficking across our border.
Sanctuary states, counties and cities impede reduction of illegal drug-related deaths.
Sanctuary policies attract criminal activity and prevent local and federal policing authorities from breaking up illegal immigrant drug trafficking.
Over six months ago, former ICE Director Tom Homan attested to sanctuary jurisdiction release of 10,000 criminal aliens since 2014 who were later rearrested for additional crimes. Recidivism for criminal aliens equals the 70 percent rate of all U.S offenders.
Without secure borders and elimination of sanctuaries, attempts to reduce our nation’s drug addiction crisis will fail. Addiction will increase.
Disregarding destruction of American lives, families, safety, spiritual and psychological health and economic costs, Democrats sanctimoniously pander to “undocumented immigrants” (potential Democrat voters) by promoting open borders and sanctuary jurisdictions.
Apparently, Democrats give priority to illegal immigrants over Americans’ health and safety.
Do Democrat policies belie their flaunted concern about drug addiction?
By procuring medication-assisted clinic treatment, charlatan snake oil to many opponents, and engendering hope, perhaps 24th District Democrat legislators will attempt to assuage guilt from suffering, chaos, misery and deaths their policies generate for Americans.
Susan Shotthafer,
Port Angeles