Since 2013, there have been more than 17,000 fentanyl-linked fatalities in North Carolina. The opioid and fentanyl crisis has been shattering families across our state and nation, and sadly we are losing ground in this fight. 

I'm hosting roundtables with leaders from across the state to get a broad perspective and identify solutions that will turn into action to save lives. 

My roundtable in Wilmington last week brought together Democrat and Republican officials, law enforcement leaders, and victim advocates. There wasn't a single hint of politics or partisanship, in fact, everyone emphasized the need to tackle this crisis from a nonpartisan perspective. 

Among the guests was Barb Walsh, the founder of the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina. Barb is devoting her life to fighting this crisis after her daughter was tragically killed by a bottle of water she consumed that was laced with fentanyl. 

The fentanyl crisis is so expansive that many victims do not have a substance use disorder, like Barb's daughter. Fentanyl is so lethal that only two milligrams are enough to kill a person. So when it finds its way into other substances, or someone is unintentionally exposed to it, tragedy results. 

Consider that an 8-ounce container of fentanyl is enough to kill the entire population of Wilmington, more than 120,000 people.

During my roundtable, we discussed a number of solutions that could at least help us make a dent in fighting this nationwide crisis, including:

• Removing bureaucratic barriers and expanding access to naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose.

• Expanding access to non-opioid treatments to help break the cycle of substance use disorder. I recently introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) which moves us towards this goal. 

• Cutting off the supply of fentanyl at its source: China and Mexican drug cartels. The FEND off Fentanyl Act -- legislation I helped introduce -- was signed into law in April. It gives the federal government more economic national security tools to choke off the profits of the Chinese precursor manufacturers and the Mexican cartels that push fentanyl across the border. It's a good start, but more must be done.  

Combatting this crisis is complex, but we cannot afford to continue to lose ground. I'm committed to continue working with leaders in North Carolina and my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to push for strong solutions that can save lives and make a real difference in this fight.

Sincerely,