Update January 8, 2019- President Trump quoted from this story tonight during his talk from the Oval Office. He mentioned that fentanyl killed more people last year alone than the entire Vietnam War (see 1:00 mark of video).
November 30, 2018- by Steven E. Greer, MD
The U.S. life expectancy has dramatically dropped according to a new report. This type of demographic change has never been seen before. The cause is the opioid addiction epidemic.
That National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that more than 70,000 people died from overdoses in 2017 alone. 50,000 deaths involved opioids (i.e. either prescription pills or heroin). Traditional heroin caused approximately 30,000 deaths. Fentanyl, which is mixed in with Mexican heroin, was the cause for the highest growth rate category.
The death from opioid overdoses in one year exceeds the total number of American soldiers killed during the 10-yera Vietnam War, which was approximately 50,000. The annual number of motor vehicle deaths is 47,000.
The fentanyl causing the rapid increase in death rates is being made in China and coming in through the Mexican border, mostly. It is an ingredient mixed in with the cartel heroin intentionally meant to kill users in order to build a reputation for their heroin as potent. Death from overdose is a marketing tactic.
The Healthcare Channel has long argued that the illegal drug trade is a national security risk greater than any traditional military recognized war. The DEA or border patrol should not be handling this crisis.
This is a matter for the actual military. Illegal aliens caught selling narcotics should be treated as enemy combatants, not civilians, and shot on sight if need be. Moreover, the U.S. should be conducting drone attacks on Mexican cartels just as in Yemen or Iraq. Trade with China should be limited until that country stops the production of fentanyl.
Others are starting to agree with us. Fox News pundit Tammy Bruce echoed these sentiments last night on the Tucker Carlson show.