In tomorrow’s midterm elections, voters will decide on a number of drug-related initiatives, including marijuana legalization in 5 states and a slew of cannabis-related questions elsewhere concerning local control over allowing dispensaries. At the same time, the opioid epidemic—and in particular, the synthetic opioid fentanylthat is fueling record overdose deaths—is the focus of attention, mostly from Republican congressional candidates. However, even though fatalities are soaring, they’re not focusing on the addiction and overdose crises and expanding treatment options. Rather, they are highlighting the influx of fentanyl into the U.S., using it to bolster their argument about law enforcement, crime, and border security. They have pledged to stop traffickers from bringing the drug n the country (mainly from Mexico), impose stiffer penalties, and provide more funding for law enforcement while attacking Democrats for supporting drug decriminalization and softer penalties for nonviolent drug offenses. Some Democrats are in this camp as well, including Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, who is running for Senate and introduced a bill earlier this year classifying fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction.” While drug interdiction is critical to help stop the flow of the deadly opioid into the country, playing politics with addiction policy is misguided. We need a comprehensive approach to stopping the overdose epidemic, with more resources to expand a wide range of treatment options and make treatment accessible to all who want it.
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Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies