Article Summary –
The article discusses the tragic death of a young man named Hunter due to a fentanyl overdose and the subsequent efforts by an Attorney General to combat the opioid crisis. The Attorney General has led initiatives to hold drug companies accountable, secured over $50 billion in settlements for addiction-related programs, and advocated for enhanced border security and updated state laws to tackle fentanyl trafficking. Despite the progress made, the Attorney General emphasizes the continued need for bipartisan cooperation and comprehensive strategies to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis and support affected families.
I first met Debbie after she faced one of the worst tragedies a parent can endure.
Her son, Hunter, was a charismatic person who excelled in golf and travel. He once beat Steph Curry in a free-throw competition at Davidson College’s McKillop Basketball Camp. Debbie shared countless stories of the lives Hunter touched and the person he could have become.
Hunter tragically passed away on December 4, 2016, due to an accidental fentanyl overdose at 23. Had he known about fentanyl, he might still be here today.
Too many young lives are lost to fentanyl in North Carolina, leaving parents, siblings, and spouses grieving. As Attorney General, I am committed to fighting the opioid and fentanyl crisis to prevent other families from experiencing this pain.
Upon taking office in 2017, I led a bipartisan group of Attorneys General to hold drug companies accountable for the opioid crisis. We’ve won more than $50 billion, including nearly $1.5 billion for North Carolina’s addiction prevention and recovery programs.
To address the root cause, I’m working to prevent fentanyl from crossing the border. I lobbied Congress for $300 million to install fentanyl detection equipment at the border. I also established a Fentanyl Task Force to dismantle drug trafficking rings and conducted over 670 wiretaps to aid law enforcement.
Recognizing the need for updated state laws, I worked with legislators to pass the Stop Counterfeit Pill Act, making it a felony to possess equipment for making counterfeit fentanyl pills. We also passed legislation to ban money laundering, aiding law enforcement in targeting drug traffickers, and expedited access to prescription drug diversion information.
Progress is being made, but the fight is far from over. Every fentanyl death is one too many. The crisis has no simple cause or solution, which is why I’m employing every available tool. As Governor, I will continue bipartisan efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis, including funding a Fentanyl Control Unit to assist local district attorneys with fentanyl trafficking and overdose cases. I will also work to strengthen border security to stop fentanyl from entering the country.
Above all, I will keep collaborating with dedicated moms like Debbie, who turn their pain into purpose and inspire the fight to end the fentanyl crisis.
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