DHS looks to combat illicit drugs inside and out of the United States through targeted strategy

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

September 19, 2023, 5:53 PM


The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday rolled out what it is calling a comprehensive guide to combatting illicit opioids from coming into the country.

The report, titled "Strategy for Combatting Illicit Opioids," outlines four goals the Department hopes will stop opioids from coming into the country.

“Our nation continues to face an unprecedented epidemic of deaths from illicit synthetic opioids -- our citizens are dying every year at an unimaginable rate,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger in a press release. “This is a bold and innovative strategy to stem the flow of dangerous narcotics and directly addresses the public health emergency this opioid crisis has become.

HSI is the primary investigative arm of the Department. Primary elements of the strategy include: Reducing the international supply of illicit opioids, reducing the supply of opioids in the United States, attacking the enablers of the drug trafficking organizations and working with the private sector to better stop drugs from getting into the United States.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dhs-combat-illicit-drugs-inside-united-states-targeted/story?id=103323901

---

Link to DHS/HSI's press release - https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/09/19/dhs-homeland-security-investigations-announces-strategy-combat-illicit-opioids

Link to HSI strategy report (PDF) - https://www.ice.gov/doclib/opioids/strategy.pdf

[slightlv]

1. As long as their only intent on reducing the supply of

*illicit* opioids, I'll not yell. But read that sentence as it is, and that's fighting words to millions of autoimmune and other chronic pain sufferers.

I hope (and assume) it's just another example of what our journalism has become without real, knowledgeable, human editors employed.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Since this is funneling through ICE

I think the focus is on what is being illegally brought into the country vs domestically-produced or legally imported from known pharmaceutical manufacturers.

From the first sentence in the OP -

combatting illicit opioids from coming into the country.

(i.e., interdictions, etc)

[Voltaire2]

3. Oh I'm sure this will succeed after 60 years

of total failure.

Perhaps prohibition is not the answer?

[Kali]

5. yep

the cause of drug abuse is not the smuggling of drugs. time to look at WHY US citizens are demanding the product. addressing root causes is often difficult but the bandaid approach is NOT a long term solution and after only a short period becomes MORE expensive and complicated than actually solving the real problem.

[Delphinus]

8. Thank you

I have asked that question for YEARS! Why is it that we need to use drugs?

[maliaSmith]

4. illicit drugs from Mexico

Mexico isn't helping stop the drugs being trucked and driven into the US. They need to screen all trucks with Xray equipment just like the US does and before the trucks present themselves at US borders. Every single truck needs to be screened and if they aren't helping, then the US needs to just slow down incoming trucks from Mexico and screen every single truck and car for drugs. Yes, it would create a logjam at the border, but we need to stop the drugs and if this is the only way, so be it. It would hurt Mexican business for sure, but since Mexico isn't helping, perhaps this is what is needed.

[Kali]

6. why does Mexico have to solve OUR drug consumption problem?

sure they could partner in some of this (and they do) but our drug use problem needs to be addressed at the cause, not at the border.

[maliaSmith]

7. reply

Because they are just as much responsible for incoming drugs since so many of their police are on cartel payroll.