Friend, keep the pressure on the Harris and Trump campaigns to provide real health-based solutions to the overdose crisis.
That’s not what we got at last night’s vice presidential debate. Fentanyl came up, and rather than propose real health solutions that can curb the overdose crisis driven by fentanyl, candidates played political theater and fear-mongered about the U.S.-Mexico border. All the while, they didn’t propose any health-based solutions that we urgently need within our borders and in our communities.
They tried to appear tough on fentanyl by calling for crackdowns at the border and punitive drug war policies that have failed us time and time again. Remember that despite criminalizing all fentanyl-related substances in 2018, and a rise in fentanyl trafficking seizures, fentanyl continued to spread across the U.S. and overdose deaths increased from 67,367 in 2018 to 107,941 in 2022.
Americans are understandably concerned about fentanyl and deserve a real plan for overdose and fentanyl that puts health and saving lives first. With no other debates confirmed, last night was likely our last chance to put a health approach to overdose in the spotlight on the national debate stage. But that won’t stop us from speaking up to ensure it gets the attention it deserves: tell Harris and Trump to provide real plans that will prevent overdose and save lives.
If our leaders are serious about saving lives, they must:
Both candidates have prioritized criminalization and punishment responses to fentanyl and the overdose crisis. But this punitive approach is actually a primary driver of the fentanyl-fueled overdose crisis which continues to claim lives despite 50 years of drug war policies. Instead of more “lock-them-up” proposals and scapegoating immigrants for the overdose crisis in the U.S., candidates must get serious about reducing demand and saving lives by advancing health solutions that work.
Supply-side interdiction and increased criminal penalties fill up our jails and drain our communities of resources that could be better spent on health services, housing, and good-paying jobs. We need candidates that will focus on what is most important – saving lives.
The debates have shown how much we are up against in this crucial moment for drug policy. That’s why we need you to keep the pressure on Harris and Trump to take the overdose crisis seriously by treating it like the health issue it is.
