A doctor at one of the top addiction clinics in the U.S. and specializes in treating fentanyl addicts is applauding a plan by President Biden to do more to stop the fentanyl crisis.
In his State of the Union address the president stated that the drug is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year. The plan would include more drug detection machines, and more inspections of cargo in an attempt to interrupt the flow of fentanyl.
Alta DeRoo is chief medical director at Hazelden Betty Ford and she says at times, the crisis seems insurmountable.
“But when we step back, and we take a look at the differnet ways we can combat this, I think there’s really a way to put a dent in it and decrease some of the damage,” DeRoo tells WCCO’s Susie Jones.
DeRoo says fentanyl is different from other drugs because it kills people fast, and much of the time addicts don't even get the time to go into treatment.
In the president's plan, key actions the Administration plan to use to tackle the issue include:
Disrupting the trafficking, distribution, and sale of fentanyl
In just the last year Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized a historic 260,000 pounds of illicit drugs primarily at ports of entry on our border, including nearly 15,000 pounds of fentanyl.
Deliver more life-saving naloxone to communities hit hard by fentanyl
In late spring, HHS will take new steps to encourage and aid states in their efforts to use existing funding to purchase naloxone and distribute it in their communities.
Ensure every jail and prison across the nation can provide treatment for substance use disorder
Providing treatment while individuals are in jails and prisons, and continuing their treatment in their communities, has been proven to decrease overdose deaths, reduce crime, and increase employment during reentry.
Build on historic progress to drastically expand access to medications for opioid use disorder
The Biden-Harris Administration will further expand access to treatment by working with medical professionals to make prescribing proven treatments, including buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, part of routine health care delivery and ensure that manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies are making medications available to everyone with a prescription.
Launch a national campaign to educate young people on the dangers of fentanyl, and how naloxone saves lives
The Ad Council’s Real Deal on Fentanyl campaign has raised awareness about the dangers of fentanyl among youth.
Read more about the Administration’s plans here.
Related
Related
