For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.realcleardefense.com/art...e_opioid_national_security_crisis_112158.html
Solving the Opioid National Security Crisis
By Jacob J. Kim
August 27, 2017
Opioid addiction in the United States has quickly become a complex crisis with enormous implications. Overdose deaths involving opioids nearly tripled from 1999 to 2014, and they currently claim the lives of approximately 142 people every day.[1], [2] Experts say opioid related deaths could kill nearly 500,000 Americans in the next decade.[3] The greatest culprits and beneficiaries of this epidemic are Mexico’s drug cartels, which provide more than 90 percent of America’s heroin and rake in billions in profit.[4] As long as demand for the drug in the U.S. remains high, Mexico’s drug traffickers and cartels will continue to flourish. Significantly decreasing demand for illicit opioids in the U.S. is the most effective way to reduce the power of these cartels, and this can only be done through a combination of education, legalization, and effective medical treatment.
One Problem Fuels the Other
America’s addiction to illicit drugs is the Mexican drug cartels’ primary source of income. It has always been this way, but the drug of choice has changed. Trafficking of opioids such as fentanyl and heroin is now more profitable than marijuana and cocaine, and cartels have ramped up local production of opioids significantly since 2013.[5] The profitability of opioids has become so high that gangs of rival drug cartels in Mexico are going to war to control poppy fields, which the federal government struggles to find and destroy.[6] In the U.S., the demand for opioids shows no sign of abating, as addicts in all 50 states abuse everything from overprescribed OxyContin to more lethal opioids such as fentanyl and heroin. If the demand for opioids in the U.S. were to decrease, Mexican drug cartels would likely lose a proportional amount of money and power.
Ineffective Strategies
Multiple initiatives have made relatively little progress in decreasing the influence of Mexican drug cartels and the soaring demand for illicit opioids. Federal and state efforts to limit the number of painkillers a doctor can prescribe has been ineffective, with current data showing that “prescribing remains high and var[ies] widely from county to county.”[7] Even if the prescription was not an option, it is too easy for Americans to purchase opioids through a variety of illegal means. Mexican drug traffickers have a sophisticated distribution chain in all major U.S. cities, and a growing number of transactions are completed on the dark web and delivered straight to the customer.[8][9] Meanwhile, attempts by federal and state law enforcement to arrest and incarcerate drug-abusers and traffickers have been futile. The demand is simply too high, and it is expected that President Trump’s proposed wall will do nothing to stem the tide of opioids flowing across the border.[10]
Reducing U.S. Demand
Reducing America’s demand for opioids is a difficult and complex task that requires economic and medical sensibility. Approximately 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.[11] Doctors in the U.S. have been prescribing excessive quantities of opioids to mitigate pain, and the addictive qualities of the drug are causing patients to seek temporary relief or highs rather than a long term solution. It’s a slippery slope that often leads to more dangerous opioids that are being peddled by Mexican drug cartels. Overprescribed painkillers have proliferated in American households, making them easily accessible to friends and family members and raising a new generation of addicts.[12] U.S. government officials should take the following actions to address these issues:
Legalize opioid painkillers and make them available for public purchase. Mexican drug cartels have already cornered the U.S. market share for heroin.[13] It’s only a matter of time before they have a monopoly on more common painkillers to replace prescription medication such as Vicodin and OxyContin. Legalizing prescription pills with codeine, hydrocodone, meperidine, and oxycodone and making them available for over-the-counter purchase is an economically sensible and viable method of reducing illegal opioid trafficking. The demand for cartel-trafficked opioids would dramatically decrease, making more lethal opioids such as heroin among the few remaining in-demand products in cartel inventory. Once opioids become available for purchase to adults without a prescription, they should be taxed and labeled similarly to alcohol and cigarettes. Graphic and descriptive warning labels should warn adults of the addictive and negative consequences of abusing the product.
Many would balk at the idea of making such potent, addictive drugs available for public purchase but it is important to remember that legal inaccessibility does not necessarily equate to a lower rate of abuse. Enactment of Prohibition in 1920 actually increased alcohol abuse, crime, corruption, and government spending while reducing much-needed tax revenue.[14] Nearly a century later, legalization of marijuana in U.S. states such as Colorado decreased teen usage and diminished marijuana on the black market.[15] It is clear that imposing restrictive laws and punitive measures do little to mitigate widespread substance abuse and may likely result in wasted taxpayer funds and other social issues.
Increase access to affordable medication to reduce opium craving. The U.S. government should widely distribute and subsidize overdose-reversing drugs such as naloxone as well as medicines such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to reduce opioid cravings. The availability and affordability of these drugs and medicines should rival that of birth control products and nicotine patches. A recent study found that treating opioid addicts with buprenorphine is effective in reducing cravings and also cost-effective compared to referrals and interventions.[16] This is one effort that the federal government can act on sooner rather than later as long as funds are available.
Subsidize increased research on alternatives to opioids. Drug companies are already working on creating alternatives to opioids in the wake of the federal crackdown on lax prescriptions. Several potential alternatives offer the hope of numbing or stopping pain without the addictive qualities of opioids or other negative side-effects. Scientists have ideas on everything from injections using synthetic capsaicin to nerve-growth inhibitors and oral drugs based on genetic mutations.[17] It is important for the government to support and expedite these developments, particularly the ones that show the most promise, to replace addictive opioids in the near future.
Increase access to specialty care facilities. The majority of heroin addicts require detoxification to gradually recover from addiction. The federal government should subsidize special treatment centers, where addicts can inject the drug under medical supervision. Not only does this encourage heroin addicts to seek treatment, but it also significantly decreases the chance of overdose deaths and infections from unsanitary conditions. This is an initiative that is backed by an increasing number of physicians and medical professionals who believe that supervised injection is the lesser of two evils.[18] Under the watchful eye and care of doctors, addicts have a chance to gradually return to normalcy.
Increase education and awareness on the use of opioids. President Trump had the right idea when he said that young people need to be taught the consequences of opioid abuse.[19] Proper education and awareness can alter cultural trends and significantly decreases the next generation’s likelihood of using and abusing opioids. Expanded drug awareness and substance abuse programs should be mandatory for school-aged children in public and private schools. Public service announcements on television, radio, and social media should constantly remind Americans of the dangers of opioid use and the medical treatments available for addicts.
Conclusion
In a 2012 OpEd to CNN, Richard Branson wrote that “treating drugs as a health issue could save billions, improve public health and help us better control violence and crime in our communities.”[20] Now, as President Trump trumpets the need for strengthened law enforcement to combat the opioid epidemic,[21] Branson’s words cannot be more prescient and imperative. Punitive measures against Mexico’s cartel members and those that buy and abuse their drugs does not solve the problem. It creates a large prison population, inflames racial tensions, increases crime, and does little to decrease the abuse of opioids. By legalizing opioids and providing effective medical treatment and education, the U.S. can reduce demand for opioids and consequently reduce Mexican drug cartel influence.
MAJ Jacob J. Kim is a U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer specializing in the Latin American and Northeast Asian regions. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of California Los Angeles and published his thesis Mexican Drug Cartel Influence in Government, Society, and Culture in 2014. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at Johns Hopkins University.
Notes:
[1] “Increases in Drug and Opioid-involved Overdose Deaths- United States, 2010-2015.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 30, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm655051e1.htm?s_cid=mm655051e1_w (accessed August 10, 2017).
[2] Goodnough, Abby. “White House Panel Recommends Declaring National Emergency on Opioids.” The New York Times. July 31, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/health/opioid-crisis-trump-commission.html (accessed August 10, 2017).
[3] Blau, Max. “STAT forecast: Opioids could kill nearly 500,000 Americans in the next decade.” Stat. June 27, 2017. https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/27/opioid-deaths-forecast/ (accessed August 10, 2017).
[4] Johnson, Natalie. “Mexican Drug Cartels Driving Heroin, Opioid Consumption in U.S.” The Washington Free Beacon. August 13, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/national-security/mexican-drug-cartels-driving-heroin-opioid-consumption-u-s/ (accessed August 13, 2017).
[5] Dean, Matthew. “FBI’s Comey: Mexican drug cartels fueling US heroin epidemic.” Fox News. March 2, 2017. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/02/fbis-comey-mexican-drug-cartels-fueling-us-heroin-epidemic.html (accessed August 15, 2017).
[6] “Mexico declares war on poppies to combat cartel opioid trade.” Global News. May 8, 2017. http://globalnews.ca/news/3434392/mexico-declares-war-on-poppies-to-combat-cartel-opioid-trade/ (accessed August 10, 2017).
[7] “Opioid Prescribing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/opioids/index.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
[8] Ladwig, Boris. “DEA Agent: Fentanyl’s rise in opioid crisis is a matter of pure profit.” Insider Louisville. April 27, 2017. https://insiderlouisville.com/metro...ise-in-opioid-crisis-a-matter-of-pure-profit/ (accessed August 23, 2017).
[9] Popper, Nathaniel. “Opioid Dealers Embrace the Dark Web to Send Deadly Drugs by Mail.” June 10, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/10/business/dealbook/opioid-dark-web-drug-overdose.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
[10] Saviano, Roberto. “Why a Mexican Border Wall Won’t Stop the Drug Cartels.” Newsweek. March 6, 2017. http://www.newsweek.com/2017/03/17/why-mexican-border-wall-wont-stop-drug-cartels-564112.html (accessed August 10, 2017).
[11] “Chronic Pain Statistics: Facts and Figures Behind This Epidemic.” The Good Body. June 23, 2017. http://www.thegoodbody.com/chronic-pain-statistics/ (accessed August 16, 2017).
[12] Lopez, German. “How to stop the deadliest drug overdose crisis in American history.” Vox. August 1, 2017. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/8/1/15746780/opioid-epidemic-end (accessed August 20, 2017).
[13] Woody, Christopher. “Mexican cartels are expanding their control over the US heroin market.” Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/mexican-control-us-heroin-market-2016-12 (accessed August 22, 2017).
[14] Thornton, M. (1991). Cato institute policy analysis no. 157: Alcohol prohibition was a failure. Cato Institute.
[15] Ingraham, Christopher. “After legalization, teen marijuana use drops sharply in Colorado.” The Washington Post. December 21, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-far-failed-to-happen/?utm_term=.a5312db0d896 (accessed August 23, 2017).
[16] Busch, S. H., Fiellin, D. A., Chawarski, M. C., Owens, P. H., Pantalon, M. V., Hawk, K., Bernstein, S. L., O'Connor, P. G., and D'Onofrio, G. (2017) Cost-effectiveness of emergency department-initiated treatment for opioid dependence. Addiction, doi: 10.1111/add.13900.
[17] Chen, Caroline. “Drugmakers Are Racing to Find Alternatives to Opioids.” Bloomberg. June 28, 2017. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...s-drugmakers-scramble-to-concoct-alternatives (accessed August 23, 2017).
[18] Bebinger, Martha. “As Opioid Epidemic Rages On, Massachusetts Medical Society Back Supervised Injection Rooms.” WBUR. April 29, 2017. http://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2017/04/29/supervised-injection-rooms-vote (accessed August 23, 2017).
[19] Leonard, Kimberly. “Trump on opioids: ‘No good, really bad for you in every way.’” Washington Examiner. August 8, 2017. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/t...ally-bad-for-you-in-every-way/article/2630945 (accessed August 23, 2017).
[20] Branson, Richard. “War on drugs a trillion-dollar failure.” CNN. December 7, 2012. http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/06/opinion/branson-end-war-on-drugs/index.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
[21] Bierman, N., & N. Levey. “Trump emphasizes tough law enforcement in comments on opioid epidemic.” Los Angeles Times. August 8, 2017. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-opioid-20170808-story.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.realcleardefense.com/art...e_opioid_national_security_crisis_112158.html
Solving the Opioid National Security Crisis
By Jacob J. Kim
August 27, 2017
Opioid addiction in the United States has quickly become a complex crisis with enormous implications. Overdose deaths involving opioids nearly tripled from 1999 to 2014, and they currently claim the lives of approximately 142 people every day.[1], [2] Experts say opioid related deaths could kill nearly 500,000 Americans in the next decade.[3] The greatest culprits and beneficiaries of this epidemic are Mexico’s drug cartels, which provide more than 90 percent of America’s heroin and rake in billions in profit.[4] As long as demand for the drug in the U.S. remains high, Mexico’s drug traffickers and cartels will continue to flourish. Significantly decreasing demand for illicit opioids in the U.S. is the most effective way to reduce the power of these cartels, and this can only be done through a combination of education, legalization, and effective medical treatment.
One Problem Fuels the Other
America’s addiction to illicit drugs is the Mexican drug cartels’ primary source of income. It has always been this way, but the drug of choice has changed. Trafficking of opioids such as fentanyl and heroin is now more profitable than marijuana and cocaine, and cartels have ramped up local production of opioids significantly since 2013.[5] The profitability of opioids has become so high that gangs of rival drug cartels in Mexico are going to war to control poppy fields, which the federal government struggles to find and destroy.[6] In the U.S., the demand for opioids shows no sign of abating, as addicts in all 50 states abuse everything from overprescribed OxyContin to more lethal opioids such as fentanyl and heroin. If the demand for opioids in the U.S. were to decrease, Mexican drug cartels would likely lose a proportional amount of money and power.
Ineffective Strategies
Multiple initiatives have made relatively little progress in decreasing the influence of Mexican drug cartels and the soaring demand for illicit opioids. Federal and state efforts to limit the number of painkillers a doctor can prescribe has been ineffective, with current data showing that “prescribing remains high and var[ies] widely from county to county.”[7] Even if the prescription was not an option, it is too easy for Americans to purchase opioids through a variety of illegal means. Mexican drug traffickers have a sophisticated distribution chain in all major U.S. cities, and a growing number of transactions are completed on the dark web and delivered straight to the customer.[8][9] Meanwhile, attempts by federal and state law enforcement to arrest and incarcerate drug-abusers and traffickers have been futile. The demand is simply too high, and it is expected that President Trump’s proposed wall will do nothing to stem the tide of opioids flowing across the border.[10]
Reducing U.S. Demand
Reducing America’s demand for opioids is a difficult and complex task that requires economic and medical sensibility. Approximately 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.[11] Doctors in the U.S. have been prescribing excessive quantities of opioids to mitigate pain, and the addictive qualities of the drug are causing patients to seek temporary relief or highs rather than a long term solution. It’s a slippery slope that often leads to more dangerous opioids that are being peddled by Mexican drug cartels. Overprescribed painkillers have proliferated in American households, making them easily accessible to friends and family members and raising a new generation of addicts.[12] U.S. government officials should take the following actions to address these issues:
Legalize opioid painkillers and make them available for public purchase. Mexican drug cartels have already cornered the U.S. market share for heroin.[13] It’s only a matter of time before they have a monopoly on more common painkillers to replace prescription medication such as Vicodin and OxyContin. Legalizing prescription pills with codeine, hydrocodone, meperidine, and oxycodone and making them available for over-the-counter purchase is an economically sensible and viable method of reducing illegal opioid trafficking. The demand for cartel-trafficked opioids would dramatically decrease, making more lethal opioids such as heroin among the few remaining in-demand products in cartel inventory. Once opioids become available for purchase to adults without a prescription, they should be taxed and labeled similarly to alcohol and cigarettes. Graphic and descriptive warning labels should warn adults of the addictive and negative consequences of abusing the product.
Many would balk at the idea of making such potent, addictive drugs available for public purchase but it is important to remember that legal inaccessibility does not necessarily equate to a lower rate of abuse. Enactment of Prohibition in 1920 actually increased alcohol abuse, crime, corruption, and government spending while reducing much-needed tax revenue.[14] Nearly a century later, legalization of marijuana in U.S. states such as Colorado decreased teen usage and diminished marijuana on the black market.[15] It is clear that imposing restrictive laws and punitive measures do little to mitigate widespread substance abuse and may likely result in wasted taxpayer funds and other social issues.
Increase access to affordable medication to reduce opium craving. The U.S. government should widely distribute and subsidize overdose-reversing drugs such as naloxone as well as medicines such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to reduce opioid cravings. The availability and affordability of these drugs and medicines should rival that of birth control products and nicotine patches. A recent study found that treating opioid addicts with buprenorphine is effective in reducing cravings and also cost-effective compared to referrals and interventions.[16] This is one effort that the federal government can act on sooner rather than later as long as funds are available.
Subsidize increased research on alternatives to opioids. Drug companies are already working on creating alternatives to opioids in the wake of the federal crackdown on lax prescriptions. Several potential alternatives offer the hope of numbing or stopping pain without the addictive qualities of opioids or other negative side-effects. Scientists have ideas on everything from injections using synthetic capsaicin to nerve-growth inhibitors and oral drugs based on genetic mutations.[17] It is important for the government to support and expedite these developments, particularly the ones that show the most promise, to replace addictive opioids in the near future.
Increase access to specialty care facilities. The majority of heroin addicts require detoxification to gradually recover from addiction. The federal government should subsidize special treatment centers, where addicts can inject the drug under medical supervision. Not only does this encourage heroin addicts to seek treatment, but it also significantly decreases the chance of overdose deaths and infections from unsanitary conditions. This is an initiative that is backed by an increasing number of physicians and medical professionals who believe that supervised injection is the lesser of two evils.[18] Under the watchful eye and care of doctors, addicts have a chance to gradually return to normalcy.
Increase education and awareness on the use of opioids. President Trump had the right idea when he said that young people need to be taught the consequences of opioid abuse.[19] Proper education and awareness can alter cultural trends and significantly decreases the next generation’s likelihood of using and abusing opioids. Expanded drug awareness and substance abuse programs should be mandatory for school-aged children in public and private schools. Public service announcements on television, radio, and social media should constantly remind Americans of the dangers of opioid use and the medical treatments available for addicts.
Conclusion
In a 2012 OpEd to CNN, Richard Branson wrote that “treating drugs as a health issue could save billions, improve public health and help us better control violence and crime in our communities.”[20] Now, as President Trump trumpets the need for strengthened law enforcement to combat the opioid epidemic,[21] Branson’s words cannot be more prescient and imperative. Punitive measures against Mexico’s cartel members and those that buy and abuse their drugs does not solve the problem. It creates a large prison population, inflames racial tensions, increases crime, and does little to decrease the abuse of opioids. By legalizing opioids and providing effective medical treatment and education, the U.S. can reduce demand for opioids and consequently reduce Mexican drug cartel influence.
MAJ Jacob J. Kim is a U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer specializing in the Latin American and Northeast Asian regions. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of California Los Angeles and published his thesis Mexican Drug Cartel Influence in Government, Society, and Culture in 2014. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at Johns Hopkins University.
Notes:
[1] “Increases in Drug and Opioid-involved Overdose Deaths- United States, 2010-2015.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 30, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm655051e1.htm?s_cid=mm655051e1_w (accessed August 10, 2017).
[2] Goodnough, Abby. “White House Panel Recommends Declaring National Emergency on Opioids.” The New York Times. July 31, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/health/opioid-crisis-trump-commission.html (accessed August 10, 2017).
[3] Blau, Max. “STAT forecast: Opioids could kill nearly 500,000 Americans in the next decade.” Stat. June 27, 2017. https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/27/opioid-deaths-forecast/ (accessed August 10, 2017).
[4] Johnson, Natalie. “Mexican Drug Cartels Driving Heroin, Opioid Consumption in U.S.” The Washington Free Beacon. August 13, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/national-security/mexican-drug-cartels-driving-heroin-opioid-consumption-u-s/ (accessed August 13, 2017).
[5] Dean, Matthew. “FBI’s Comey: Mexican drug cartels fueling US heroin epidemic.” Fox News. March 2, 2017. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/02/fbis-comey-mexican-drug-cartels-fueling-us-heroin-epidemic.html (accessed August 15, 2017).
[6] “Mexico declares war on poppies to combat cartel opioid trade.” Global News. May 8, 2017. http://globalnews.ca/news/3434392/mexico-declares-war-on-poppies-to-combat-cartel-opioid-trade/ (accessed August 10, 2017).
[7] “Opioid Prescribing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/opioids/index.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
[8] Ladwig, Boris. “DEA Agent: Fentanyl’s rise in opioid crisis is a matter of pure profit.” Insider Louisville. April 27, 2017. https://insiderlouisville.com/metro...ise-in-opioid-crisis-a-matter-of-pure-profit/ (accessed August 23, 2017).
[9] Popper, Nathaniel. “Opioid Dealers Embrace the Dark Web to Send Deadly Drugs by Mail.” June 10, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/10/business/dealbook/opioid-dark-web-drug-overdose.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
[10] Saviano, Roberto. “Why a Mexican Border Wall Won’t Stop the Drug Cartels.” Newsweek. March 6, 2017. http://www.newsweek.com/2017/03/17/why-mexican-border-wall-wont-stop-drug-cartels-564112.html (accessed August 10, 2017).
[11] “Chronic Pain Statistics: Facts and Figures Behind This Epidemic.” The Good Body. June 23, 2017. http://www.thegoodbody.com/chronic-pain-statistics/ (accessed August 16, 2017).
[12] Lopez, German. “How to stop the deadliest drug overdose crisis in American history.” Vox. August 1, 2017. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/8/1/15746780/opioid-epidemic-end (accessed August 20, 2017).
[13] Woody, Christopher. “Mexican cartels are expanding their control over the US heroin market.” Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/mexican-control-us-heroin-market-2016-12 (accessed August 22, 2017).
[14] Thornton, M. (1991). Cato institute policy analysis no. 157: Alcohol prohibition was a failure. Cato Institute.
[15] Ingraham, Christopher. “After legalization, teen marijuana use drops sharply in Colorado.” The Washington Post. December 21, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-far-failed-to-happen/?utm_term=.a5312db0d896 (accessed August 23, 2017).
[16] Busch, S. H., Fiellin, D. A., Chawarski, M. C., Owens, P. H., Pantalon, M. V., Hawk, K., Bernstein, S. L., O'Connor, P. G., and D'Onofrio, G. (2017) Cost-effectiveness of emergency department-initiated treatment for opioid dependence. Addiction, doi: 10.1111/add.13900.
[17] Chen, Caroline. “Drugmakers Are Racing to Find Alternatives to Opioids.” Bloomberg. June 28, 2017. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...s-drugmakers-scramble-to-concoct-alternatives (accessed August 23, 2017).
[18] Bebinger, Martha. “As Opioid Epidemic Rages On, Massachusetts Medical Society Back Supervised Injection Rooms.” WBUR. April 29, 2017. http://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2017/04/29/supervised-injection-rooms-vote (accessed August 23, 2017).
[19] Leonard, Kimberly. “Trump on opioids: ‘No good, really bad for you in every way.’” Washington Examiner. August 8, 2017. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/t...ally-bad-for-you-in-every-way/article/2630945 (accessed August 23, 2017).
[20] Branson, Richard. “War on drugs a trillion-dollar failure.” CNN. December 7, 2012. http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/06/opinion/branson-end-war-on-drugs/index.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
[21] Bierman, N., & N. Levey. “Trump emphasizes tough law enforcement in comments on opioid epidemic.” Los Angeles Times. August 8, 2017. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-opioid-20170808-story.html (accessed August 23, 2017).
