To the Editor:
Preliminary federal data that reports a slight drop in annual opioid overdose deaths offers a small measure of hope. But it’s no cause for celebration, despite what The Morning newsletter (“Has Fentanyl Peaked?,” nytimes.com, May 21) appears to suggest.
For the millions of American families who have lost loved ones throughout this crisis — and for those who will continue to experience the traumatic impacts of the epidemic — small reductions in yearly overdose deaths do not signal the end of this public health emergency.
In 2023, law enforcement seized over 115 million pills that contained illicit fentanyl. The omnipresence of high-potency fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in our drug supply continues to drive unprecedented instances of drug poisoning in communities across the country. That’s why focusing intently on prevention and encouraging robust conversations with loved ones about the dangers of the drug supply remain key.
Instead of victory laps, we should redouble our efforts to invest in innovative overdose reversal medications that specifically respond to synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, and we should encourage states to get these resources into the hands of public health providers and community leaders on the front lines of this ongoing crisis.
Mary Bono
Durango, Colo.
The writer is the chair and C.E.O. of Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse and a former member of Congress.
To the Editor:
In a recent Times newsletter reporting fewer deaths from fentanyl overdoses in 2023 than in 2022, the author, German Lopez, proposed that we can speed up the decline in deaths if we “better coordinate with China” to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
However, it is the Chinese Communist Party that is actively driving this crisis, as the House committee that I chair recently revealed in a bipartisan report. The Chinese government subsidizes the export of illicit narcotics that are illegal to produce under Chinese law. It gives government grants to drug traffickers. Chinese state-owned enterprises openly facilitate the export of illicit narcotics bound for the U.S.
Even as China claims to cooperate with us to stem the flow of fentanyl and its ingredients today, its chemical manufacturers are already moving on to the next phase of the crisis — nitazenes and xylazine, which can be more potent and less responsive to Narcan.
Fentanyl and other illicit narcotics are killing more Americans each year than were killed in the bloodiest year of World War II. Until we address the root cause of the supply-driven crisis — the Chinese Communist Party actively addicting and killing Americans — we will not stop this deadly epidemic. We have tried talking. It’s time for Congress and the Biden administration to act.
John Moolenaar
Caledonia, Mich.
The writer is a Republican representative from Michigan who is chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.
To the Editor:
“Has Fentanyl Peaked?” offers a glimmer of hope in the opioid crisis that is ravaging our nation, communities and families. However, the article does not discuss some critical factors contributing to the decline in overdose deaths: education, prevention programs and bipartisan state-level legislation.
“Right to know” laws mandate discussions between doctors and their patients about the risks of dependency when opioids are prescribed and the availability of safer alternatives. This proactive measure was first made into law in New Jersey and now has been adopted by 20 other states.
Prevention programs in schools, workplaces and public spaces are crucial for helping people make the choice to lead drug-free lives.
While increased access to Narcan and addiction treatment is essential, education and legislative measures are necessary to keep these numbers moving in the right direction. It is through these comprehensive, community-focused strategies that we can hope to sustain and accelerate the decline in overdose deaths.
Angelo M. Valente
Hoboken, N.J.
The writer is executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
To the Editor:
On May 16, you published a headline featuring a bit of good news: “Overdose Deaths Dropped for the First Time in 5 Years.”
But this headline doesn’t tell the whole story. Though it’s true that preliminary 2023 data was indicative of an overall decrease in death rates, overdose deaths among Black Americans have historically increased — with the most recent data showing a 7.5 percent increase from 2021 to 2022.
I recently moderated a panel on Capitol Hill discussing the impact of the overdose crisis on Black Americans and outlining policy solutions to end racial inequities in overdose treatment and fatalities. Implementing these policies will require buy-in from both the public and elected officials, and this must start with mainstream media doing their part to raise awareness about the disparity in overdose deaths.
Any win in this fight is worth celebrating — but let us also be cleareyed about the status quo and the work left to accomplish. By acknowledging the unequal impact the overdose crisis has on Black Americans, the media can contribute to better health outcomes for all.
Yolonda C. Richardson
Washington
The writer is president and C.E.O. of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
To the Editor:
Re “How Baltimore Became the Overdose Capital” (front page, May 25):
The Times’s investigative story about Baltimore’s outrageously high overdose deaths is a sad reminder of how governments can easily forget about the most vulnerable. This is especially true for addicts, who typically don’t vote.
That Baltimore’s mayor and other elected city officials professed no knowledge of how dire the city’s overdose death rate had become proves this point.
That the city’s attention was drawn to other crises, like the pandemic and homicides, does not excuse its failure to adequately address drug overdoses. Baltimore certainly is capable, or should be capable, of dealing with multiple issues, if it desired to do so. At a minimum, officials should have drawn attention to the fact they didn’t have enough resources to do so and sought outside help.
That the mayor attempts to blame pharmaceutical companies and opioids for the fentanyl overdoses is a sad case of trying to shift blame rather than accepting accountability and doing something. Perhaps the Times story will motivate Baltimore voters to seek better governance for their city.
Joseph P. Petito
Bethesda, Md.
