Opioids Entering US By Mail

[Dr JIM]

Deadly synthetic opioids are streaming into the United States amid a flood of mail that arrives unscreened from abroad every day, overwhelming the Postal Service and fueling the drug epidemic gripping much of the country, security experts and Massachusetts lawmakers say.

Nearly 1 million packages a day enter the country without any advance electronic information that might flag the presence of dangerous opioids such as fentanyl, much of which is manufactured in China, said Juliette Kayyem, a former assistant Homeland Security secretary.

An estimated 340 million pieces of mail each year pass unchecked through the Postal Service and US Customs without the prior electronic screening that was authorized by Congress 14 years ago but has yet to be fully implemented, Kayyem said.

The problem “is as disruptive to our country as any terrorist act has been” said Kayyem, who teaches at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

In 2015, Massachusetts ranked second per capita in synthetic-opioid deaths, which include fentanyl, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of such deaths in the state increased 109 percent from 2014 to 2015, the report said.

The scourge of fentanyl is still growing in Massachusetts. The drug has been found this year in three-quarters of overdose victims who had a toxicology test after their deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Through September, as many as 1,475 opioid-related deaths had been confirmed or suspected in the state, a number on pace to break last year’s total of 1,759.

Much of the synthetic opioids that find their way into the United States — including fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin — originate in China but come through Mexico, where they are processed and packaged by drug cartels before being smuggled into the United States, federal officials say.

But a significant amount is bought by American users on the so-called dark web, a term for Internet sites that sell illegal products and then ship them directly from overseas and through the US mail, according to the experts.

For this, many buyers need no more than a computer, a click of a mouse, and delivery to their mailboxes.

The ease of using US mail to ship illicit drugs was tested in 2015 by the consulting firm LegitScript, which made 29 purchases from illegal online pharmacies, mostly in India. All 29 of the packages were delivered by the Postal Service after failing to be intercepted by customs.

Currently, much mail received from 191 foreign postal services, including China, Russia, and India, does not contain basic data such as the sender’s name, an address, and the package’s contents, according to Americans for Securing All Packages, a nonpartisan organization. (Kayyem serves as senior adviser for the group.)

Such data can be used to flag a package shipped from a suspicious or known illegal supplier. Once in the United States, officials said, the package stands a better chance to be plucked from the mail stream.

The national response to opioid-related deaths has been lagging, critics say. In 2002, Congress authorized the Customs Service to receive basic advance data on all incoming international mail. But since then, only private carriers such as Federal Express and United Parcel Service have conformed, Kayyem said.

‘Donald Trump will need to understand that you cannot just build a wall to keep fentanyl out of America.’

“There is a lot of money to be made,” she said. In addition to opioids, security officials are concerned about hazardous materials and counterfeit goods that are slipping through.

David Partenheimer, a Postal Service spokesman, wrote in an e-mail to the Globe that the agency does receive advance electronic data on international shipments from “multiple countries, including China.”

However, Partenheimer did not specify what details are received, how they are used, or what percentage of mail from large countries such as China, Russia, and India contain this information.

“The Postal Service shares the goal of those calling for expanding efforts to keep dangerous drugs out of the US mail system,” Partenheimer wrote.

To bolster screenings, Representative Richard Neal, a Democrat from Springfield, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill in September that would require advance electronic data — instead of merely authorizing the collection of such information — before packages enter the United States.

“This is one of those fascinating issues that unites Democrats and Republicans,” Neal said.

“It’s got the potential to equip the Postal Service and investigative agencies with the tools that they’re going to need.”

Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts, a Democrat who called fentanyl “the Godzilla of opioids” in an interview, also is working to curb the drug’s entry into the United States.

He and Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, secured approval of a resolution from the Foreign Relations Committee that calls on the US government to make the issue of illicit fentanyl “of the highest importance in our relations with China and Mexico,” Markey said.

“We’re going to need a much closer working partnership with the Mexican and Chinese governments if we are going to be successful, and they need to understand that we mean business,” he said.

The senator said he also is crafting a bill to provide the Customs Service with high-tech equipment and more scientists to detect fentanyl on the spot.

Neal said the fentanyl trade probably is being promoted by gangs and criminal syndicates as part of China’s vast underground economy.

If his bill is approved, Neal said, he is hopeful that the Drug Enforcement Administration “and other investigative agencies here can work with their counterparts overseas to undertake this in more of a preventive manner.”

In the meantime, the congressman said, “There is a long way to go.”

It's unfortunate bc once again the Devils in the details.

The article makes it appear as if anyone can hop on line and obtain schedule II narcs willy nilly when this has been shown NOT to be the case.

The fact is most schedule II drugs purchased over the net are absolute BUNK and that is from the DEA!

 

[ronin17]

"In bed with big pharma", wined and dined and pushed and compensated to prescribe the latest and greatest drugs. Which nearly all of them do.

You really have issues staying on topic jim. When did I say people who abuse narcotics are blameless???

Never said that or even eluded to it.

Having a debate with you requires way more patience then I have because you simply cant stay on topic and try to put words in my mouth.

I think maybe you should look into some attention deficit disorder meds.

Happy new year doc

 

[Eman]

It's unfortunate bc once again the Devils in the details.

The article makes it appear as if anyone can hop on line and obtain schedule II narcs willy nilly when this has been shown NOT to be the case.

The fact is most schedule II drugs purchased over the net are absolute BUNK and that is from the DEA!

Doesn't surprise me in the least... Not only is it underdosed or bunk on the Internet, I imagine it's the same on the street too. Sadly, it's a take what you can get ideology when struggling with addiction sometimes.

 

[Mrhat39]

Doesn't surprise me in the least... Not only is it underdosed or bunk on the Internet, I imagine it's the same on the street too. Sadly, it's a take what you can get ideology when struggling with addiction sometimes.

It's like everything else, if you get with the wrong people, you can get what you thought you were needing. Just to find out, it was your worst nightmare!!!

 

[BBC3]

What did you say.??? U r DEA.?!?!? Yea we figured. You are way too maderate for a bitchy ass er doc..!! Lol

I don't give a fuck what you say .. CAUSE YOU CANT DENY THAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC COMLETELY CORROLETES OBAMA-asshole cutting off hydrocodone...!

Period.

And I didn't have to be a GOD DAMND PSYCHIC TO PREDICT THIS...

Obama is responsible for about 85% of opioid related deaths these days. Or if you want to do the math - you can just subtract the historical norm dating to Jan 2014 forward. OR NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING..!!!

And forget fentanyl. You can't even handle Carfentanyl without gloves and a mask or you die.. ridiculous.

Good fucking job yer killing whiteee at last ..!

@Dr JIM - crybme a river about hydro now.. if you don't get it yer a killer too..

It's unfortunate bc once again the Devils in the details.

The article makes it appear as if anyone can hop on line and obtain schedule II narcs willy nilly when this has been shown NOT to be the case.

The fact is most schedule II drugs purchased over the net are absolute BUNK and that is from the DEA!

 

[jJjburton]

What did you say.??? U r DEA.?!?!? Yea we figured. You are way too maderate for a bitchy ass er doc..!! Lol

I don't give a fuck what you say .. CAUSE YOU CANT DENY THAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC COMLETELY CORROLETES OBAMA-asshole cutting off hydrocodone...!

Period.

And I didn't have to be a GOD DAMND PSYCHIC TO PREDICT THIS...

Obama is responsible for about 85% of opioid related deaths these days. Or if you want to do the math - you can just subtract the historical norm dating to Jan 2014 forward. OR NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING..!!!

And forget fentanyl. You can't even handle Carfentanyl without gloves and a mask or you die.. ridiculous.

Good fucking job yer killing whiteee at last ..!

@Dr JIM - crybme a river about hydro now.. if you don't get it yer a killer too..

Why hydros???? I didnt like em. Now dilaudids are my shit, when I had them. That was when I never shot and snotred them. They are nice. I am clean now though. Just wondering aboutt he hydros?

 

[BBC3]

Smoke some crack I'll give you a money back fukin guarantee..!!! You will never think of that drug again...!

Dude, that is sad story, with a happy ending. I'm glad you are staying strong.
It's hard to come away from this stuff.

What destroyed me was the nasal spray, is so easy to do. You can't keep track of it. Pills and pins, you can count and know what you have taken. The nasal spray hits instantly with fent, and it takes about 2 seconds to do. I was up to just over 1000 mcg an hr. In the night, I would just keep hitting it because I would wake up (I hurt in the night the worst) and think I was needing more is why I was woke up. When I ditched the stuff I counted the bottles and I had went through around 1400 doses.
I am only around 3 months, give or take a couple of weeks (like I said, I can't remember much at one point there) or so out. I fight it every day.....

Thanks for your story, it helps to hear guys that has beaten it.

 

[Eman]

What did you say.??? U r DEA.?!?!? Yea we figured. You are way too maderate for a bitchy ass er doc..!! Lol

I don't give a fuck what you say .. CAUSE YOU CANT DENY THAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC COMLETELY CORROLETES OBAMA-asshole cutting off hydrocodone...!

Period.

And I didn't have to be a GOD DAMND PSYCHIC TO PREDICT THIS...

Obama is responsible for about 85% of opioid related deaths these days. Or if you want to do the math - you can just subtract the historical norm dating to Jan 2014 forward. OR NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING..!!!

And forget fentanyl. You can't even handle Carfentanyl without gloves and a mask or you die.. ridiculous.

Good fucking job yer killing whiteee at last ..!

@Dr JIM - crybme a river about hydro now.. if you don't get it yer a killer too..

Holy shit... Do you live in a PCP factory or something?

 

[jJjburton]

Smoke some crack I'll give you a money back fukin guarantee..!!! You will never think of that drug again...!

I smoked crack once. Well one time didnt count it was one hit. But really binged and got good stuff. I am glad I dont do it. It feels way to good.

 

[BBC3]

Well I'm never said it was great for ya. Just that it will make you forget all about opioids is all.. and it only takes a month or two. Then by the time you sell the car and mortgage the house... YER CURED..!!

My GUARANTEE STANDS.. lol

 

[BBC3]

On a serious note someone has to get the msg to trump that the war on drugs starts by taking the war off hydro. Anyone can do the math. Talk about an NwO kill off...!

 

[Triton_]

On a serious note someone has to get the msg to trump that the war on drugs starts by taking the war off hydro. Anyone can do the math. Talk about an NwO kill off...!

*hug*

 

[BBC3]

And on that thing I said above about crack. Sorry it was irresponsible. I DO NOT ENCOURAGE OR ADVOCATE THE USE OF ANY ILLEGAL DRUGS oR SUBSTANCE.!!! PERIOD Especially crack. They put everything from to a roach poison to to God knows what. It will kill you. Many die from it. Apologies..just being to jokey last night... it was just a lash out again about the poor turn of events due to the poor decision to reschedule hydro and all the problems it's causing..

Out...

 

[Mrhat39]

Make no mistake about it tolerance to the effects of opioids occurs and the net effect of long term high potency opioid use is an reduced threshold to PAIN itself.

Such that what most non-users describe as an ache, becomes 10/10 PAIN to those whom use high potency narcotics.

Some of the effect is the result of severely diminished secretion of endogenous endorphins or pain receptor modulation.

regardless of etiology the ONLY way to become accustomed to, or tolerate
"pain" cease the use of ALL OPOIDS

I've drained MANY IVDA related abscesses over the years and none are more challenging from a pain management perspective than someone who has used heroin on a chronic basis!

The most efficacious is KETAMINE IME.

Yeah I will agree to part of that for sure.
I have lived with and without pain meds. I definitely know the difference. I do have chronic pain.
I went in for a heart cath. I had an extremely high opioid tolerance at the time.
When they tried to get the heart cath in, it felt like they were running a sword through me. I was not numb. Worst procedure I have seen in awhile. They give me whatever was supposed to numb me, I literally hollering out as he shoved the cath in!

Of course anytime you come off of long term pain meds, everything hurts for a couple weeks.
The pain med laws are really hard to deal with, for doctors and patients alike.
Not being able to give hydrocodone does cause people that are in chronic pain to find other ways to deal with it. I would definitely be hooked on hydrocodone today if the lawls had not changed.
But I never would have got mixed up with fentanyl, if I was not needing to self treat.
Fentanyl patches, and the stuff that's coming out of China are two different animals. And I have used a lot of hundred microgram per hour patches.

We are only starting to see the tip of the iceberg of what's getting ready to happen with the fent epidemic.
I am very fortunate to have survived fent and to be off the crap!!

 

[ddp7]

Question:

why you take opioids? and dont watch porn? Porn is an opiod and free.

Its funny but in Japan or something the asian creator of vaginatoys( for jerk off) do his business with basis in the shame and in the culprit of the people.

Well currently is famous in all the world.

So,again and seriously,why use opioids?

 

[ickyrica]

are you retarded?

 

[ddp7]

No sir,Im telling to you the history of a worlwide business,yeah for jerk off.No joke.

Maybe I lost the main point but my question is so true and legit.

 

[ickyrica]

no, your question isn't legit.

why use an opioid when you can beat off? that's your question?

so, let's be objective here. I ripped the bottom of my right femur off. literally, ripped that shit right off. as I layed on the ground somewhere inbetween passing out and throwing up the first remedy that any sane and educated person would think of is to beat off, right? masturbation would just sweep my mind away as the lower half of my leg CAN'T physically stay in socket because the femur has lost its ability to stay a complete joint. pornhub is your answer?

At this point I don't need to ask if you're retarded. I know my answer.

 

[ddp7]

shit bruh, sorry, got it.

 

[ickyrica]

sorry about being on the offensive there, could have been more tactful.

no amount of masturbation, or sex for that matter, makes this any better. well, a blow job couldn't hurt I suppose...