Families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl met last week in Washington, D.C., for the Third Annual National Family Summit on Fentanyl to push for change to prevent others from experiencing their pain. The event was hosted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on November 14-15 for those who lost a loved one to a fentanyl drug poisoning or overdose to explore ways to work with the DEA to combat the fentanyl crisis.
On the upside, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that 2023 was the first time overdose deaths have decreased in the past 5 years. According to the CDC, the U.S. saw a 14.5% decrease in overdose deaths from June 2023-June 2024. The 14.5% decrease in poisonings and overdose deaths translates to more than 14,000 American lives saved. Also, for the first time since 2021, the DEA has seen a decrease in the potency of fentanyl pills.💊
While this shows progress, the nation's top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Merrick Garland, acknowledged that the fight is far from over. Garland said that the Justice Dept. has been putting more pressure on drug cartels. This year alone, the DEA has seized more than 6,100 pounds of fentanyl powder - the equivalent of more than 302 million deadly doses. Federal officials are also working to take more fake pills off the street. More than 47 million fentanyl pills have been seized by the DEA this year.
More info on the Annual National Family Summit on Fentanyl can be found at:
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