"Driving the news: Homan said he attended a Department of Homeland Security briefing six months ago to discuss classifying the drug as a WMD. "When I left that briefing, it was my understanding that they would push that recommendation up to the Secretary, but I've been out of it ever since," he said. "They're really trying to make money on their customers, and we're not going to do that by killing them, right?" Homan said, referencing the goals of drug manufacturers."
"By the numbers: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confiscated more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl in 2024. This year's numbers, updated in late September, found the DEA seized more than 262 million deadly doses of fentanyl. Yes, but: Preliminary data from the CDC earlier this year showed 2024 drug overdose deaths dropped to their lowest annual level since 2019, a 26.9% drop from the estimated 110,037 deaths in 2023."
"State of play: DHS began considering fentanyl's WMD designation in specific scenarios in 2019. Various bills and resolutions have tried to address the fentanyl crisis by reclassifying the drug but none have been successful. The Fentanyl is a WMD Act, introduced by Rep Lauren Boebert (R-CO) earlier this year, would require DHS' Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to classify the drug as such."
Homan attended a Department of Homeland Security briefing six months ago about classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and expected a recommendation to be pushed to the Secretary. Homan said drug manufacturers prioritize profit and suggested policy should not be to kill customers. The DEA confiscated more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl in 2024, with an updated September count showing over 262 million seized doses. Preliminary CDC data showed 2024 drug overdose deaths fell 26.9% from 2023, reaching the lowest annual level since 2019. DHS began considering WMD designation scenarios in 2019. Multiple bills have sought reclassification; Rep. Lauren Boebert introduced the Fentanyl is a WMD Act.
Read at Axios
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