This article was published as an opinion piece in the Boston Herald by Massachusett's U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey and Niki Tsongas, who represents the Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives Saturday, July 08, 2017

http://www.bostonherald.com/opinion/op_ed/2017/07/markey_and_tsongas_feds_must_aid_local_authorities_in_opioid_epidemic 

Comments from the Immigration Matters columnist:

He quotes from the article:
"But in 2016, fentanyl was present in a staggering 69 percent of the state’s opioid-related deaths, resulting in 1,400 fentanyl-related deaths in the commonwealth.

"The primary sources of fentanyl are outside the United States, principally Mexico and China. The drug is smuggled across the U.S. border."

As the very astute Bob Trent pointed out, Leprechauns and doctors are not responsible for the presence of heroin and fentanyl on the streets of America.

Massachussetts has been particularly hard hit and I am guessing they can't afford to pussy foot around any longer as the political deflection has become apparent.

And, this has all been specifically brought to the attention of Congress by NAFBPO for well over a year.

I suspect that the main reason that the full statistics for 2015 and 2016 are not being released is because the evidence does not fit Congress' narrative of the need for counseling and attacking pharmacies and doctors. Heroin, fentanyl and carefentanyl have thrived because the political and media elites have suppressed the truth about the crisis for years.

It is fair to call this supression and deflection political protection for transnational crime.

So, how long before Ohio and Wisconsin start talking about the facts ? Illinois and New York are lost causes and one has to wonder who is benefitting from the trafficking of these drugs in America.

Zack Taylor, Chairman
NAFBPO.org

Editor's Note: Massachusetts may seem a long way from New Mexico, but we have a border with Mexico, across which these drugs are likely traveling.