Currently, how many Americans die of fentanyl drug overdoses per 100,000 residents?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
How many Americans die of fentanyl drug overdoses per 100,000 residents?
How many San Franciscans die of fentanyl drug overdoses per 100,000 residents?
Describe how fentanyl drug overdose deaths has changed since 2010.
San Francisco is in the middle of a drug crisis. Overdose deaths reached a record high last year, topping 800. Public drug use is widespread in some neighborhoods. Local policy changes are partly to blame, some experts say. In 2014, California voters passed Prop 47, reducing drug possession to a misdemeanor from a felony. In San Francisco, law enforcement has responded by scaling back efforts against drugs, de-emphasizing incarceration and effectively allowing public drug use. Why do you think San Francisco has such a high rate of death from fentanyl overdoses compared to the rest of the U.S.
According to the data from the visual below* how many Portuguese die of fentanyl drug overdoses per 100,000 residents and how does the fentanyl drug overdose deaths rate in Europe compare to the United States.?
Decriminalization is not full legalization, but it removes criminal penalties for small amounts of drug possession. In 2000, Portugal passed a law that decriminalized all drugs, including heroin and cocaine. But it kept some penalties, like fines and license suspensions, to incentivize people to get addiction treatment and deter outdoor public drug use. Along with decriminalization, Portugal also invested in addiction treatment and created a system that tries to push people to seek help for addiction. “Decriminalization by itself means nothing if you have nothing else to offer,” according to João Goulão, the architect of Portugal’s system. Please note that there are many, many differences between Portugal and the United States. Based on the data below and above, and the experiences of Portugal and San Francisco, if you were the American president would you support the decriminalization of drugs like fentanyl?
Fentanyl is an incredibly potent synthetic opioid. As a pharmaceutical, it’s used safely every day for anesthesia in operating rooms throughout the country, and as a prescribed painkiller. But like heroin and other opioids, it can be highly addictive. Since 2015, fentanyl and other drugs closely related to it have gradually displaced heroin and other opioids in illicit American drug markets, leading to a surge in addiction and overdose deaths. According to the data below* how many Americans died of fentanyl drug overdoses in 2022?
In the 1980s America launched a war on drugs which dramatically increased anti-drug spending and levels of incarceration. Do you think it’s time to launch a new “war on drugs”?
In November of last year, President Biden laid out plans to tackle "every angle" of the fentanyl crisis, calling it an "American tragedy". Many angles, though, involve China and Mexico, which lay beyond US control. Of the following executive powers, outlined in Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which could a president use to fight the fentanyl epidemic?
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session. he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
How does the issue of fentanyl policy illustrate the concept of federalism?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Tweet Joe Biden @JoeBiden or Contact the White House and let President Joe Biden know what you think he should do about fentanyl.
Or call the White House and tell the President I said hi at phone number:
1-202-456-1414 (Switchboard)
1-202-456-1111 (Comments)
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Get Creative
Create a billboard, bumper sticker, slogan, or sticker to fight teen fentanyl use. Share your creation with your classmates and in the comments section below.