Biden and the fentanyl crisis

 The Federalist Wire:

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President Joe Biden, speaking before an assembly of global leaders in New York, acknowledged the United States’ ongoing battle against the fentanyl crisis, stating that “for years, too little has been done” to protect Americans from the deadly synthetic opioid. But since Biden took office, more than 250,000 Americans have died from fentanyl-related overdoses, the majority of which originate from China.

At the symposium, held at the InterContinental Barclay Hotel alongside leaders from Italy, the Dominican Republic, and Belgium, Biden positioned himself as a leader on the issue. He emphasized that overdose deaths had been increasing prior to his presidency while noting a recent 10% decline in deaths. However, the president did not address the troubling fact that the number of fatalities has nearly doubled during his tenure compared to former President Donald Trump’s time in office.

“For years, too little has been done to beat this threat here at home and around the world. In fact, before I came to office, overdose deaths in our country were increasing by more than 30% year-over-year,” Biden, 81, remarked. “I’m proud to announce for the first time in five years, overdose deaths are actually coming down across America. The latest data shows a 10% drop,” he added, while also acknowledging, “There are too many that are still dying. There’s so much more that needs to be done.”

Since Biden took office, an estimated 223,000 Americans have died from fentanyl and similar substances, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If the 10% decline holds steady during his final year in office, the total death toll from fentanyl during Biden’s term could surpass 290,000. This would amount to a staggering 82.4% increase in fentanyl-related deaths compared to Trump’s four-year presidency, when over 159,000 Americans are believed to have died.

Despite touting progress, Biden has struggled with accurately presenting fentanyl statistics in public remarks, often either downplaying or overstating the numbers. At Tuesday’s event, he also stumbled over the pronunciation of naloxone, the widely used opioid overdose reversal medication, although he highlighted its over-the-counter availability during his term.

Republicans have persistently criticized Biden for not taking more decisive action on the fentanyl crisis. In his defense, Biden pointed to his 2022 State of the Union address, in which he made fighting opioid addiction part of his “unity agenda” — though he backdated this commitment to his 2021 inauguration.

“When I became president, I made beating opioids a central part of the unity agenda, something that our entire nation could rally around, and has,” Biden stated. He went on to highlight his administration’s achievements in addressing the crisis: “Over the last four years, we’ve turned that agenda into action. My administration made nal — excuse me — na-, made naloxone, a life-saving overdose reversal medicine available over the counter,” Biden said, adding, “You could purchase it over the counter for the first time.”

However, Biden’s claim about naloxone availability overlooks the fact that it was accessible without a prescription in at least 35 states before he assumed office.

Biden also cited additional efforts, including investing over $80 billion across all states to expand access to addiction treatment and support, as well as issuing an executive order targeting drug cartel leaders with sanctions. He noted the deployment of hundreds of advanced X-ray machines at US borders, which, according to him, has resulted in more fentanyl seizures in the past two years than in the previous five years combined. Despite these actions, the president admitted that fentanyl continues to pose a “national security threat.”

Following Biden’s remarks, an unnamed senior administration official hinted that the fight against fentanyl could change if Vice President Kamala Harris does not win the upcoming November 2024 election. “If, for some reason, a future administration decides that that’s not its priority… we anticipate that others will carry the flag, and that’s part of what collective action is about,” the official said.

Republican critics have consistently pointed out that record-breaking illegal immigration under Biden’s watch may have worsened the drug smuggling problem. Fentanyl, due to its small size, can easily be transported via international mail and vehicles crossing legal checkpoints. Still, Biden has been hesitant to publicly pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping on the matter, which has led some Republicans to question whether Biden’s ties to China through his family have influenced his stance.

Last year, Trump accused Biden of being “bribed and now… blackmailed” by China. House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed this sentiment, stating that Biden’s approach to China might be affected by his family’s business dealings with Chinese state-linked enterprises.
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Biden's open borders policy has facilitated the drug cartels and their import of this dangerous drug.  It was much more controlled under Trump and would be more controlled if Trump was elected again.  Biden's border policy never made much sense other than his irrational hatred of Trump.