Activists Rally at NC State Capitol, Urging Tougher Laws as Fentanyl Deaths Reach Alarming Levels
In a bid to combat the alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths, a group of activists gathered outside the North Carolina State Capitol on Sunday to advocate for stricter punishments for those involved in the illegal distribution of the deadly drug. The rally aimed to bring attention to the need for legislative action in order to curb the devastating impact fentanyl has had on communities across the state.
If the proposed bills pass, it would expand the range of individuals who can be held criminally accountable for distributing fentanyl. Currently, North Carolina is one of the few states that possesses a law allowing prosecution for death-by-distribution. Under this law, individuals who sell drugs resulting in fatal overdoses can be prosecuted by district attorneys. However, the new bills seek to widen the scope of prosecution beyond drug sales, encompassing general distribution even in the absence of financial transactions.
Executive Director of the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina, Barb Walsh, emphasized the importance of providing closure to grieving families. She stated, They would see the person who killed their son, daughter, wife, or cousin in the courtroom. And there’s no words for that. To offer support to those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, Walsh’s organization has been connecting affected family members with one another, facilitating the formation of a solidarity-based support network.
Recent data from the North Carolina Office of the Medical Examiner reveals that nearly 14,000 deaths in the past nine years can be attributed to fentanyl. Alarmingly, WRAL’s Data Trackers also discovered that people of color are experiencing fentanyl overdoses at rates three to five times higher than those recorded in 2015.
The severity of North Carolina’s fentanyl crisis was highlighted in the WRAL documentary, Crisis Next Door, shedding light on the urgent need for action in combating this lethal epidemic.
As the state grapples with the devastating consequences of fentanyl abuse, the demands for stricter laws and penalties have gained momentum. The activists’ rally serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the urgency of effective measures to prevent further tragedies.
