The U.S. is squandering a major opportunity in the fight against the opioid epidemic by failing to take strong steps to identify and seize opioids shipped to America from China and elsewhere overseas. At issue is the centerpiece of comprehensive legislation enacted in 2018 to address the opioid epidemic – the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act (STOP Act). Interim final regulations issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on March 15, 2021 should be strengthened as it remains far too easy for criminal cartels to use the U.S. and international postal systems to mail fentanyl and other opioids to Americans. Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler discusses these matters here.
Find Archived Articles: