An entire generation of young Americans is dying. The cause of death is not war or disease: it is fentanyl.

In 2021, there were close to 108,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States.

Nearly 75% of U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid, and over 82% of those deaths involved synthetic opioids — primarily illegally manufactured fentanyl.

We face an especially grave Fentanyl crisis in the West, where the CDC reports that between fiscal years 2018-19 and 2019-20, the 10 western states reported an increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths of over 98%.

In Arizona, more than five people die every day from opioid overdoses, according to our Department of Health Services.

These tragic deaths are the direct result of our open border and trafficking of fentanyl by cartels. All across our border with Mexico, men dressed in camo fatigues and armed with AK-47s walk through the fields and yards of Arizonans with backpacks full of Fentanyl.

This crisis is a tragedy and a national disgrace. We must act to protect the lives and property of our citizens and children.

Arizona provides severe penalties for manufacturing, selling and transporting illegal narcotic drugs such as fentanyl. These crimes are classified as class 2 felonies and carry mandatory prison sentences of up to 12.5 years. But a more severe deterrent is needed to stop the cartels from killing our children and destroying our communities.

In Arizona, the attorney general has the authority to prosecute organized crime.

I will use this authority to prosecute traffickers for fentanyl deaths. 

I will charge them with felony murder. And I will press for the death penalty for the trafficker and the cartel leaders who send them.

About the author

Andrew Gould is a Republican primary candidate for Arizona Attorney General.