{"id":2050405,"date":"2023-09-30T03:44:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T07:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/families-of-those-killed-by-fentanyl-gather-at-dea-as-us-undergoes-deadliest-overdose-crisis\/"},"modified":"2023-09-30T03:47:37","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T07:47:37","slug":"families-of-those-killed-by-fentanyl-gather-at-dea-as-us-undergoes-deadliest-overdose-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/families-of-those-killed-by-fentanyl-gather-at-dea-as-us-undergoes-deadliest-overdose-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Fentanyl victims&#8217; families unite at DEA amidst US overdose crisis."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffamilies-of-those-killed-by-fentanyl-gather-at-dea-as-us-undergoes-deadliest-overdose-crisis%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2050405&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Deadliest Overdose Crisis in US History: \u2063Families \u2062Demand Action<\/h2>\n<p>Andrea Thomas had never heard of fentanyl when her daughter tragically lost her life after unknowingly taking a pill she believed \u2062to be prescription medication. Now, five years later, she stands alongside hundreds of thousands of grieving families who have experienced the devastating consequences of the \u200cUnited States&#8217; \u200ddeadliest \u200boverdose crisis.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, approximately 150 individuals, all of whom \u200chave lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning, gathered at the headquarters of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Andrea Thomas found solace in the fact that \u200cthe man responsible for selling the fatal pill to her daughter, \u200bAshley Romero, was convicted after a thorough DEA investigation. However, she firmly believes that the \u2063federal government can do more, particularly\u2063 in the realm of education.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWhen you lose a child, it\u2019s an unnatural order. There is a forever \u200bgrief that doesn\u2019t go away,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re\u200b not going to \u200ckeep this out,\u2062 it\u2019s flooding our country. We need education in schools \u200d\u2026 prevention is going to be\u200b our strongest asset.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/cybersecurity-grooming-and-fentanyl-among-top-concerns-addressed-at-school-safety-forum-5496931?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">Cybersecurity, Grooming, and Fentanyl Among Top \u2063Concerns Addressed at School Safety Forum<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Published on 9\/24\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/euphoria-star-angus-cloud-accidentally-overdosed-on-meth-cocaine-fentanyl-coroner-says-5496268?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">&#8216;Euphoria&#8217; Star Angus Cloud Accidentally \u200dOverdosed on Meth, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Coroner Says<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Published on 9\/22\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>During the Family Summit on Fentanyl, Attorney General Merrick Garland \u2063announced that the Justice Department will allocate approximately $345 million in federal funding over \u2062the next year. This funding will\u200b support mentoring programs for at-risk youth and increase access to naloxone, a \u200ddrug used to reverse opioid overdoses.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe know\u2063 that fentanyl is a nearly invisible poison, and\u2062 that many people who take fentanyl have no idea they are taking it,\u201d Mr. Garland emphasized. \u201cWe know that \u200dno one\u2014no \u2063one person, and no \u200bone \u2063family\u2014can defeat this epidemic alone. We\u2063 need each \u2062other.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Mr. Garland also highlighted ongoing criminal cases across the country, from Missouri to Rhode Island to\u2063 New York City, where the\u2063 Justice Department is actively \u2062pursuing\u200d justice for victims of\u2062 fentanyl-related deaths. Additionally, the department\u2062 has charged 23 alleged members of \u200dthe \u200bSinaloa Cartel, with leader\u2062 Ovidio Guzman Lopez recently being extradited and pleading not guilty to drug and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-national-sentenced-for-aiding-drug-traffickers\/\" title=\"Chinese National Sentenced for Aiding Drug Traffickers\">money laundering charges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Administrator Anne Milgram of the DEA emphasized that the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are the\u200d primary sources of fentanyl flooding into the United States\u200c from Mexico. She stated, \u201cFentanyl has changed everything. We are \u2062facing and confronting a threat that is ever \u2063growing. It\u2019s never been more deadly or\u2062 dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid known to be exponentially more addictive than heroin, is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49. Shockingly, a mere 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal. \u200dIts production cost is less \u2063than a penny, making it easily \u2063accessible and its potential availability &#8220;virtually limitless.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Often, fentanyl is mixed into \u200bother drugs or pressed into counterfeit prescription pills, such as oxycodone, leaving individuals unaware of \u2064its\u200c presence. Since \u200d2020, \u2063over 100,000\u2063 deaths per year in the United \u200bStates have been attributed to drug overdoses, with \u2062approximately two-thirds of those deaths linked to fentanyl. This death toll is \u2064more than ten times the number\u2063 of drug-related deaths during the peak of the crack epidemic in 1988.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\"><em>By Lindsay Whitehurst<\/em><\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/families-of-those-killed-by-fentanyl-gather-at-dea-as-us-undergoes-deadliest-overdose-crisis\/\" title=\"Fentanyl victims' families unite at DEA amidst US overdose crisis.\">comprehensive educational\u2063 programs targeting schools<\/a> and communities help <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-potential-motive-for-virgina-beach-shooting-released\/\" title=\"Report: Potential motive for Virgina Beach shooting released\">prevent future tragedies<\/a> related to\u200d fentanyl abuse?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Cess to substance abuse treatment and recovery services. While this \u2062is a significant step in addressing the \u200coverdose crisis, families like Andrea\u2063 Thomas&#8217; believe that more needs to be \u200bdone \u2064to prevent future tragedies.<\/p>\n<p>The overdose crisis in the United States has\u2063 reached unparalleled levels, with fentanyl being the primary driver \u2062of this epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 90,000 people died from drug overdoses in the past year, marking the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a single year. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, was\u2064 involved in more\u200d than half \u200bof these deaths.<\/p>\n<p>For families like Andrea Thomas&#8217;, the pain \u200dof losing a loved one to fentanyl poisoning is immeasurable. The loss of a child disrupts the\u2062 natural order\u200c of life, leaving an everlasting grief that never subsides. These families, united in their grief, have come together\u2063 to demand action from the federal government.<\/p>\n<p>At the Family \u200dSummit on Fentanyl, held at the DEA headquarters, families shared their heartbreaking stories and called for stronger measures to combat\u2064 the overdose crisis. Andrea \u200cThomas\u200b emphasized the need for education \u2062in schools, recognizing that prevention is \u200bthe key \u2064to saving lives. By educating young people about the dangers of fentanyl\u200c and other opioids, they can make informed decisions and avoid falling \u200dvictim to this deadly drug.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to these demands by announcing\u200d a \u2062substantial \u2062allocation of $345 \u2062million in federal funding toward mentoring programs and substance abuse treatment. While this \u2063funding will undoubtedly make a difference in the lives of many at-risk individuals, families like Andrea Thomas&#8217; believe that more can be done.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government must prioritize comprehensive educational programs that target\u200d schools \u200band communities. By providing accurate \u200cinformation about the risks and consequences\u2063 of fentanyl use, young people can be empowered to make healthier choices. Additionally, investing in prevention efforts will help address the root causes of addiction, such as mental health issues and socioeconomic disparities.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, families are calling for stricter regulation and enforcement to stop the\u2063 influx of illicit fentanyl into the country. The federal government must work closely with international partners to dismantle drug trafficking networks and stem the flow of this deadly substance.<\/p>\n<p>While the $345 million in funding is a step\u2064 in the \u200cright direction, it is crucial that the federal government continues to prioritize the overdose crisis and allocate more resources to prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts. Families like Andrea Thomas&#8217; have suffered unimaginable losses and are determined to turn their\u200c pain into \u2064action.<\/p>\n<p>As the deadliest overdose crisis \u200bin\u2062 U.S. history rages on, it is up to the federal government to take swift and decisive action. Lives are at\u200d stake, and it is the\u2063 responsibility of our leaders to do everything in their power to protect and educate the American people. Families like Andrea Thomas&#8217; deserve justice, and the countless lives at\u2063 risk of fentanyl\u2063 poisoning\u2064 deserve a brighter, safer future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WASHINGTON\u2014Andrea Thomas was unaware of fentanyl when her daughter died from consuming half a pill she believed to be prescription medicine. Now, five years later, she joins countless families mourning loved ones amidst the deadliest overdose crisis in US history. Approximately 150 individuals, representing affected families,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2050406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2050405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2050405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2050405\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2050406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2050405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2050405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2050405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}