Governor Greg Abbott announced that in 2021, the state seized 964 lbs of fentanyl, which is a more than 1,000% increase from 2020. In a press conference on the fentanyl crisis held at a DPS crime lab in Houston, Abbott listed alarming stats that should have us all very worried.
In 2019 there were 277 fentanyl deaths. However, in 2021 there were almost 1700 deaths. Abbott said, “It’s because of Washington’s open border policies that deadly fentanyl is flooding (into) into the United States,”
The fentanyl crisis is a big deal. Everyone in America should be worried, especially if you live in Texas. “Fentanyl does not derive from Texas or from the United States. It comes across the border from Mexico and it’s killing Texans. And it’s getting worse.”
In a tour given to Fox DPS, Forensic Scientist Jennifer Hatch explains how dangerous this crisis is for America.
Last year, fentanyl was the number one cause of death among Americans 18 to 45 years-old, according to data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Most of the time the drug is pressed into pill form. Though, authorities also confiscate kilos of fentanyl smuggled in from the border. Those large shipments also end up at the lab.DPS says the kilo of fentanyl could produce up to 500,000 lethal doses. Which has the potential to kill hundreds of thousands of people.Before the drug ends up at the lab, law enforcement has to find it. Which is not an easy task. Investigators say the Mexican Cartels hide it in everything from tires to water pumps. One of the people leading the charge to find the drug is Texas DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez.“Every state is a border state because of what is taking place right now,” says Lt. Olivarez.The Lieutenant is one of many leading the charge in Texas to stop the pounds of what he calls poison being shipped into the U.S. from China and Mexico.
Abbott is hoping for help from the federal government, but until then, the Texas Operation Lone Star is fighting the battle in Texas.
Texas is not the only state seeing a rise in Fentanyl. Los Angeles announced they have seized 1 million fake pills containing fentanyl.
Earlier this month, the First Lady of Florida, Casey DeSantis was at an event held in Gadsden County to announce a new messaging campaign to help residents learn the dangers of the drug.
The event was held in Gadsden County because eight people have died from fentanyl-related overdoses there in just five days.“Too many individuals are losing their lives because of illicit drugs and substance abuse,” the First Lady said. “It is imperative that Floridians know the risks and understand that just two milligrams can be lethal.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis also signed legislation to combat the problem.
Obviously, this problem is not just in Texas, and it’s not slowing down. Hopefully, the federal government will help with border policies that can slow the flow of these dangerous pills killing America.
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