America’s drug overdose crisis is out of control. Washington, despite a bipartisan desire to combat it, is finding its addiction-fighting programs are failing.

In 2018, Republicans, Democrats and then-President Donald Trump united around legislation that threw $20 billion into treatment, prevention and recovery. But five years later, the SUPPORT Act has lapsed and the number of Americans dying from overdoses has grown more than 60 percent, driven by illicit fentanyl. The battle has turned into a slog.

Even though 105,000 Americans died last year, Congress is showing little urgency about reupping the law since it expired on Sept. 30. That’s not because of partisan division, but a realization that there are no quick fixes a new law could bring to bear.

  • Bernie Ecclestoned
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    32
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    Prohibition was 100 years ago and we still haven’t learned that it doesn’t work

    • superguy@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Doesn’t work for who?

      Seems like a great way to keep poor people desperate and dependent on ridiculously expensive drugs.

      • Bernie Ecclestoned
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Heroin isn’t a dangerous drug, just addictive. Legalisation would mean fewer deaths as quality could be regulated like other prescription drugs.