Congressman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is spearheading an initiative to combat the fentanyl crisis ravaging the United States. He is proposing legislation to classify fentanyl as a biological and chemical weapon, arguing that China’s involvement in exacerbating the drug problem warrants sanctions against the country.
According to Banks, the Chinese government’s subsidies to companies manufacturing fentanyl precursors and other synthetic drugs for export are directly fueling the crisis. Despite discussions between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, these subsidies have persisted, leading to a surge in fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths in the U.S.
The House select committee on China has released a report accusing China of worsening the fentanyl crisis. The committee found that the Chinese Communist government has implemented subsidy programs for companies manufacturing fentanyl precursors, incentivizing the production of these dangerous substances for distribution outside of China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a quadrupling of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. between 2002 and 2022, with adults aged 35-44 being the most affected in recent years. Fentanyl is often mixed with other illicit drugs, leading to deadly overdoses.
Nate Moellering, the executive vice president of Allendale Treatment, an addiction treatment center in Indiana, attributes the crisis to China’s government. He urges the federal government to impose sanctions on China as a first step towards addressing the problem, emphasizing that the issue transcends political affiliations.
The White House has yet to comment on Congressman Banks’ proposal or the House select committee’s report.
