Outer Banks Times

A significant number of individuals in North Carolina have tragically lost their lives due to fentanyl overdoses. The increase in these overdoses can be attributed to several factors, such as the ongoing border issues during the Biden administration, the use of social media by drug cartels for drug sales, and the Chinese Communist Party's inability to prevent the shipment of fentanyl precursors to these cartels.

epublican North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are seeking information regarding the inflow of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States, particularly within North Carolina communities, according to Carolina Coastline article. In a letter addressed to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the senators have posed a series of vital inquiries to the Biden administration, requesting responses within a month. The letter emphasizes the alarming statistics: "Over the past nine years, more than 13,000 North Carolinians have lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses." These overdoses are driven by a range of factors, including issues related to the open border, drug cartels' utilization of social media platforms for drug distribution, and the Chinese Communist Party's inability to prevent the shipment of fentanyl precursors to these cartels.

They argue that the nation's lax border policies are responsible for fueling the influx of drugs by drug cartels. Drawing on data from U.S. Customs and Border Security, they highlight that in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), the southern border alone witnessed the seizure of over 25,000 pounds of fentanyl, and this figure doesn't encompass the fentanyl that went undetected and found its way into communities across North Carolina and the entire country, according to Carolina Coastline article. Tillis and Budd point out that North Carolina is grappling with the presence of the veterinary sedative Xylazine, colloquially known as "Trang," which is affecting the state. This sedative is being discovered mixed with fentanyl or common opioids, leading to overdoses, and, in some instances, its repeated use is causing skin ulcers. According to the UNC Street Drug Lab, Trang has been identified in over 20 counties in North Carolina.

The opioid crisis has inflicted pain and suffering on individuals, families, and communities across the nation, according to a report from Carteret CARES. In North Carolina, opioid overdose fatalities have surged twofold in the past decade. Between 2000 and 2020, more than 28,000 people in North Carolina lost their lives to drug overdoses. From 2020 to 2022, 99 individuals succumbed to overdoses in Carteret County. Carteret County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) attended to 388 opioid overdoses in 2020, 380 in 2021, and over 300 opioid overdoses in 2022. The spike in overdose cases in 2020 is likely attributed to the stress and isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the alarming rise in fentanyl overdoses, Senators Tillis and Budd are demanding answers from the Biden administration's DEA and DHS officials to find out what they are doing to stop the flow of fentanyl from entering North Carolina's communities. The senators are seeking accountability and action to address the factors contributing to the fentanyl crisis, including border security, social media drug sales, and the Chinese Communist Party's role in the shipment of fentanyl precursors.

The devastating impact of fentanyl overdoses in North Carolina highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat the opioid crisis. The efforts of Senators Tillis and Budd to seek information and hold the Biden administration accountable are crucial steps in addressing this public health emergency and preventing further loss of life.