The Invisible War on Fentanyl

The United States is battling an invisible war. On average, approximately 80,000 Americans lose their lives yearly due to a fentanyl overdose, mimicking a daily airline crash – grave, but largely unattended.

A potent opioid, fentanyl, can cause irreversible brain damage within three minutes of an overdose. Imagine taking a nap and waking up with a permanent brain injury—it’s a horrifying thought, isn’t it?

A Devastating Loss Sparks Desire for Change

Ethan Bherwani, a bright college graduate with thriving dreams, fell victim to this silent killer last year. Unaware that his substance contained fentanyl, he collapsed, tragically passing away ten days later. He was only 22.

And it was not an overdose. It was poison.

His grieving family, along with many other bereaved households across the nation, are left to face an unnecessary loss due to this imported crisis. The root of this raging epidemic primarily lies in three areas—supply, prevention, and harm reduction.

The Deadly Supply Chain and It’s Influence

It might shock you, but nearly 97% of the chemicals used to make fentanyl originate from China. Despite international pressure, Chinese companies are still producing these deadly substances. The Mexican cartels use them to produce fentanyl, which eventually finds its way into the U.S.

Moreover, Mexico is a prime source of illicit fentanyl shipments to our country since 2019. Hence, comprehensive border protection is vital to halt its inflow.

Government’s Crucial Role in Containing the Epidemic

We need to prod the government into action. The state and federal government should reinforce their regulations and actions. Homeland Security requires proper financing and advanced technology capable of identifying fentanyl in people, luggage, and mail packages to impede the lethal supply.

Harsher punishments for dealers selling fentanyl-laced substances causing overdoses are also necessary. In New York, the government is considering passing a law called “Chelsey’s Law,” to charge dealers causing fatal overdoses with manslaughter.

But controlling the supply isn’t the only solution. We need to equip ourselves and have resources readily available for overdose victims.

Naloxone: A Key to Reverse Overdoses

Naloxone, a nasal spray that counteracts opioid overdose effects, is perhaps our best weapon in this fight. Despite sealing significant settlement money from the opioid industry, New York needs to make naloxone universally available, much like Maryland did recently.

This silent war requires immediate and robust action. Around 200 Americans lose their lives to this menace daily. Now, more than ever, we need to act with urgency to prevent other families from enduring the senseless sorrow as Ethan’s family did.

Why? Because those three minutes difference between life and death are pivotal.

Avlon, the Democratic nominee for New York’s First Congressional District, and Bherwani, the recently appointed CEO at GCOM, are pushing for substantial steps to tackle this crisis. They are leveraging their influence and commitment to save lives and hope every citizen and the government do their part too.

Call to Action

Let’s stand together to combat this fatal drug crisis. After all, it’s our fight. We cannot afford to lose more promising individuals like Ethan to it.

Each of us can play a part in identifying solutions and compelling local and national leaders to take action. Only then can we hope to see an end to this tragic daily airliner crash caused by fentanyl. Only then can we prevent more unnecessary losses.

Together, we can achieve this. So, let’s start the fight today.

Sexual Coercion and Power Abuse: Reflecting on 2018

Six years ago, in 2018, actress Stormy Daniels detailed her experience in a “60 Minutes” interview. It highlighted the harsh reality of sexual coercion. At the time, even the #MeToo movement couldn’t help society fully grasp the severity of the abuse. Today, in 2024, awareness is increasing about the underbelly of sexual coercion and power imbalance.

Seeing Beyond the Coercion

People are now beginning to view Daniels’ encounters from the perspective of abuse and unequal power. Even Daniels herself, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, calls it out without reservation. This highlights how, despite everything, justice for women still remains elusive.

Struggles Still Facing Women in 2024

In today’s world, many people, especially women, fear men more than anything else – even bears. There’s a reason behind this unease. Women experience abuse, get murdered, and are often kept away from prominent roles in the workforce. They are also increasingly subjugated in intimate settings, which leads to a chilling trend of normalized physical abuse.

A Disturbing Trend: Strangulation Norms

Strangulation during sex has turned into a bizarre new normal, particularly among young women. Alarmingly, conversations about this disturbing act of violence is common chatter among teenagers. They discuss it in jest, offer advice on the subject, and even use the term “vanilla” to describe it.

The Rising Influence of Abusive Pornography

The sexual dominance and violence showcased in the growing genre of abuse porn reflect this grisly reality. It’s fast becoming mainstream where too many videos show violence against women. In this skewed world, silencing women during intimacy is seen as a form of erotic pleasure.

The Startling Statistics: Silent Reality of Abuse

In the United States today, femicide is increasing at an alarming rate. Nearly three women die at the hands of their loved ones every day. Shockingly, sexual assaults go largely unreported, with only 20% of incidents surfacing. On university campuses, this figure drops further to just 10%.

The Fight for Justice: Disparagement of Survivors

Sadly, when survivors of sexual assault come forward, they’re often treated with derision. They are unheard, mocked, ridiculed, or even branded as liars. Public opinion tends to favor the perpetrators, reinforcing the idea that women are disposable and must be silenced.

Modern-Day Oppression of Women

In an attempt to control women, society practices techniques such as arresting women for miscarriages and banning books discussing sexual assault. This patriarchal culture infiltrates our subconscious too, leading to internal biases against women, undermining their potential even in scientific fields.

Recognizing the Risks: Educating Teenagers

Educating teenagers about the dangers of asphyxiation during sex, the lingering effects, and the non-existence of safe choking can be a crucial starting point. There’s a need to form a link between bedroom violence and political disempowerment of women.

The Conservative Lean: Implications for Women

Data suggest America is turning more conservative. If this is the direction we’re headed, it’s essential to question the implications. The need of the hour is to ensure that those seeking to silence women aren’t rewarded with power.

Stormy as a Survivor: Learning from 2018

In 2018, the rights of sex workers took a backseat. Society failed to recognize Stormy Daniels as a survivor of Trump’s abuse. Let’s vow to not repeat that mistake in 2024.

Towards a Safer Society: Check and Balance

The dream of a society where women are safe, heard, and respected is still far off. But we can start by ensuring that known perpetrators of sexual violence don’t hold powerful positions in society.

For anyone affected by sexual violence, immediate support is available. Reach out to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, through their hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or chat with them online at online.rainn.org.

Additionally, the 988 Lifeline offers free and confidential support during moments of emotional distress, 24/7.

Note: Thiele Strong, a sociology professor at San José State University, contributed to this discussion in the capacity of a 2023-24 Public Voices Fellow at the TheOpEdProject.