Moody calls on Biden to categorise illicit fentanyl as weapon of mass destruction

(The Middle Sq.) – Legal professional Basic Ashley Moody is asking on President Joe Biden to categorise illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction after 26 folks in two separate incidents had been poisoned by fentanyl in a single week, together with 9 who died over the July 4 weekend.

She despatched a letter to President Biden on Monday demanding that he take instant motion to cease the fentanyl disaster in America. Final 12 months, 75,673 grownup Individuals died from opioids, primarily fentanyl. Over the previous two years, greater than double the quantity died from artificial opioids than had been killed within the Vietnam Conflict, Moody famous.

Whereas she’s not equating fentanyl deaths “to these of Individuals who fought and gave their final full measure of devotion for this nation,” she mentioned, she’s offering the numbers “to present context to the stark carnage that this nation is experiencing.

“Fentanyl has hit the state of Florida exhausting, like many different States throughout this nation, and the demise toll is growing at an alarming, exponential charge.”

Based on the Florida Division of Regulation Enforcement, there have been 5,806 fentanyl associated deaths in 2020; within the first six months of 2021, there have been greater than 3,210.

Moody despatched the letter after 19 folks overdosed from fentanyl poisoning in Gadsden County over July 4 weekend, killing 9. One week later, seven folks had been discovered unresponsive at a comfort retailer in Tampa after they’d consumed medication laced with fentanyl. In March, 5 West Level cadets overdosed, along with others of their group who additionally received sick from medication laced with fentanyl whereas on spring break in Wilton Manors. The publicity was so lethal, the primary responder additionally overdosed after trying to resuscitate them, Moody mentioned. These poisoned by fentanyl in Tampa and Wilton Manors survived after receiving medical remedy.

“Fentanyl has flooded into the nation, and Joe Biden continues to look the opposite manner as Mexican drug cartels smuggle huge quantities of this lethal opioid throughout our southwest border,” Moody mentioned after the Gadsden County incident. Addressing the president, she mentioned: “Biden, do your job, safe the border and assist us finish this opioid disaster.”

Within the letter, she mentioned the Biden administration has “achieved little to abate this American tragedy. Certainly, lots of your insurance policies have exacerbated the demise toll,” brought on by fentanyl “making it throughout our southern border.”

Moody famous that “the federal authorities already works to disrupt the availability chains of different chemical, organic, radiological or nuclear weapons. It’s not exhausting to think about that related techniques could possibly be used to cut back the circulation of illicit fentanyl into the U.S. by cartels in Mexico – and save numerous American lives.”

Based on Division of Homeland Safety, a WMD “is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, organic or different system that's supposed to hurt a lot of folks.”

Final July, the nonprofit group, Households Towards Fentanyl and a bunch of bipartisan officers, referred to as on the president to designate fentanyl as a WMD. They did so after document quantities of fentanyl had been seized on the southern border and after federal knowledge confirmed that fentanyl is the main reason behind demise amongst 18-45-year-old Individuals. Extra Individuals died from fentanyl in 2021 than from gun violence and automotive accidents mixed.

FAF’s founder, James Rauh, mentioned, “Not solely is illicit fentanyl being utilized by drug traffickers to poison 1000's of unsuspecting Individuals, additionally it is a chemical weapon that poses a really actual risk within the fallacious arms. The rising prevalence of fentanyl additionally heightens the potential for this lethal drug to be repurposed by terrorists or cartels as a chemical weapon in a mass-casualty occasion.

“The fentanyl demise toll will proceed to rise except America takes daring motion,” he warned.

FAF welcomed Moody’s name to motion, noting that the WMD designation has bipartisan assist in Congress.

"With A.G. Moody’s announcement as we speak, the motion continues to develop. ... It’s clear that the established order isn’t working," it mentioned. "WMD designation would permit the federal authorities to activate unused and under-used assets to cease illicit fentanyl earlier than it ever reaches our border.”

Final month, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-OH, launched a Congressional Decision, H.Res.1172, requesting the Biden Administration designate illicit fentanyl as a WMD.

Biden has issued suggestions to Congress to cut back the availability and availability of fentanyl and issued an govt order imposing sanctions on international nationals concerned within the world illicit drug commerce within the U.S.

His administration additionally proposed dedicating “$10.7 billion to broaden entry to substance use prevention, remedy, hurt discount, and restoration assist companies” and completely added illicitly manufactured fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I managed substance below the Managed Substance Act.

Fentanyl is an artificial opioid that’s 50 to 100 occasions extra lethal than morphine. Roughly two milligrams, concerning the weight of a mosquito, is sufficient to kill a full-grown grownup.

Fentanyl precursors are sometimes first shipped from China to Mexican ports. Cartel employees make pretend opioid capsules or lace different narcotics with them after which transport them into the U.S. primarily by the southern border.