Michigan is caught up in the middle of an opioid epidemic. But new laws may help change that.
Every year in the United States, about 80 deaths are reported as a result of tornadoes. About 17 people are killed by hurricanes, and lightning causes an average of 55 fatalities annually. But when it comes to opioid abuse, the numbers are staggering. No less than 42,000 people lose their lives every year to opioid abuse in the US. Which is why the opioid crisis is exactly that – a crisis. And Michigan appears to be one of the largest hubs in that web of death.
Opioid abuse is changing life in Michigan for all of us
The courts are clogged with drug-related cases, especially those relating to opioids. Library staff all over Michigan are now receiving training on how to deal with someone during an overdose. And the news is filled with families whose lives will never be the same because of opioids. In Detroit last month, a grandmother was charged because her eight year old grandson fatally overdosed on fentanyl after she left it where he could get at it. Our criminal defense attorneys get phone calls every day from a family that has a loved one charged with a drug crime somewhere in Michigan.
So what does Michigan plan to do about it?
Michigan is one of the main arteries for importing drugs into the US. Because we have international borders, multiple port cities, and easy access to the interior of the country, we have become one of the foremost pipelines for funneling illicit drugs into the rest of the United States. And that’s only part of the problem. Michigan Congressman Mike Bishop decided it was time to do something about it.
Recently, the United States House of Representatives passed a bipartisan piece of legislation aimed at expanding access to treatments for opioid abuse, encouraging the development of alternative methods for treating pain, and stemming the flow of illegal drugs through Michigan and into the US.
What will change if these bills are passed?
A number of things will change, but one of the most heralded changes is the one that closes a loophole in our postal law. Under current federal law, all international packages delivered by private carriers have to include advance electronic data (AED) This is basic security data which law enforcement agents use to screen packages for dangerous materials, like drugs, toxic substances and bombs. Oddly enough, this doesn’t apply to packages sent via foreign postal services, and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
This means many packages coming into the US from other countries cannot be properly and safely screened. Recent information provided by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations show that over a million international packages enter the country every day without AED, and many of them include fentanyl!) If the STOP Act is passed, AED will be required on ALL international packages coming into the US, regardless of where they come from, or what carriers brought them part or all of the way here.
Drug trafficking has severe consequences in Michigan!
Whether you’re charged at a state level, or a federal level, trafficking drugs is a serious crime, and the punishments are harsh! These can include asset forfeiture, extended prison sentences, and large fines. If you or a loved one are charged with any drug crime in Michigan, you’re going to need help from a highly skilled and experienced defense attorney who can practice law in both state and federal courts! You need The Kronzek Firm. Call 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail) as soon as you or a loved one is in contact with the police, and get the assistance you need right now. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.