Washington, D.C. (February 18, 2022) – Shabbir Imber Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, released the following statement in response to the Commission on Combatting Synthetic Opioid Trafficking's anticipated report outlining recommendations for Presidential and Congressional action to fight the flow of fentanyl within the U.S.

“The blueprint for addressing the fentanyl crisis released this week by a bipartisan commission with participation from seven agencies marks a necessary step forward in our nation’s multi-faceted battle against synthetic opioids. Calling the prevalence of fentanyl “one of our most pressing national security, law enforcement and public health challenges,” the report acknowledges the breadth of this crisis that has claimed hundreds of thousands of American lives. Importantly, the report notes that “the emergence of counterfeit tablets that contain minute quantities of synthetic opioids is particularly troubling.”

“The commission’s report, while admitting a lack of easy solutions to this problem, lays out 21 policy initiatives that can make an impact in the short- and long-terms. We call on the White House, Congress, law enforcement and other stakeholders to heed the advice of the commission and prioritize efforts to address the crisis, including disrupting the complex supply chain, which includes precursor chemicals from China and illegal trafficking through Mexico.

“As always, PSM remains committed to sharing information and resources related to the fentanyl and fake pill crisis. The latest news and reports are available on our website here. People in every U.S. state have been impacted, and the public continues to be at risk as cartels and criminal networks evolve to maximize their profits at the expense of human lives. There will not be a drastic reduction in the flow of fentanyl and other deadly counterfeits any time soon, so we must continue to raise awareness about the dangers, reminding people to only ever take medicines from a licensed, U.S. pharmacy or hospital.”

About the Partnership for Safe Medicines

The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) is a public health group comprised of non-profit organizations that handle medicine from the factory floor to the patient and are committed to the safety of prescription drugs. To learn more, visit www.safemedicines.org.