**Crisis**
Amid the rising drug crisis that has claimed nearly 75,000 American lives annually, calls are mounting for the issue to take center stage in the upcoming presidential election.
Sheriff Mark Lamb of Pinal County, Arizona, has recently expressed intense concern over illegal immigration's role in exacerbating this crisis.
He argues that illegal aliens, often crossing the southern border, are not just arriving as unregistered migrants but are also bringing deadly substances, particularly fentanyl, with them into communities across the United States.
Fentanyl has emerged as the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, surpassing even the tragic toll of national tragedies like 9/11, a point Sheriff Lamb makes to highlight the urgent need for action.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 74,702 individuals died from fentanyl poisoning last year.
With over 50% of fentanyl entering the nation through Arizona’s border with Mexico, Sheriff Lamb insists that the federal government must take more significant steps to combat this growing threat.
He emphasizes the alarming statistics, noting that in 2021 alone, 44 children in Arizona died from fentanyl poisoning, including seven infants—outrageous figures that should prompt accountability for elected officials who fail to recognize the severity of the crisis.
Lamb points to the complicity of foreign actors in this national emergency, linking Chinese companies to the trafficking of precursor chemicals essential for producing fentanyl.
While the Justice Department has begun to target these entities, Lamb argues that the political will to address this crisis effectively is sorely lacking.
“Talking about the fentanyl crisis requires acknowledging responsibility, and that might not be favorable for elections,” he observes, criticizing the indifference of current political discourse on the matter.
As Americans face the fallout from a crisis that is claiming lives at an unprecedented rate, the call to prioritize this issue in the current election cycle resonates strongly with many concerned citizens.
Sheriff Lamb's insights serve as a clarion call for voters to reflect carefully on their choices, particularly when ensconced in discussions on border security and public safety as Election Day approaches.
His perspective highlights a critical intersection of law enforcement, public health, and political accountability—an intersection that could very well be pivotal in shaping the outcome of the 2024 elections.
Sources:
americanthinker.comdailysignal.comamericafirstreport.com