https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-04-16/report-dhs-considering-classifying-fentanyl-as-weapon-of-mass-destruction
The Department of Homeland Security is considering labelling Fentanyl, a strong pain reliever, as a weapon of mass destruction. Fentanyl is extremely potent, 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and hundreds of times stronger than heroin. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered lethal for most people. Fentanyl can be released into the air as an aerosol, put into food or water, or contaminate agricultural products. Homeland has been debating whether or not fentanyl can be used as a weapon of mass destruction. The use of biochemicals and pathogens to harm or kill is called bioterrorism. The first instance of biochemical warfare in the US occurred in the French and Indian War, when British and American soldiers used smallpox infected blankets and clothing to reduce the numbers of Native Americans in an area. Bioterrorism, however, has only been high on the US's radar since the Chicago Tylenol murders in 1982. (That is the reason why we have safety seals on over the counter medications now.) Since, bioterrorism has been considered a viable form of terrorism. I think it is smart to consider fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction because inhalation can lead to dyspnea, coughing up blood, respiratory failure, overdose, and other severe respiratory complications. Touching fentanyl can lead to rash, overdose, comatose, and even death.
I think that this change of classification of Fentanyl to a weapon of mass destruction was the right move. Biohazards such as this that can kill someone with incredibly small dosage can be misused so easily. We need to take more action like this to get these deadly toxins out of the hands of those who may abuse them.
ReplyDelete-Ryan Mecca
The right choice was made to classify Fentanyl as a weapon, we need to protect those who are vulnerable from something o incredibly toxic. - Madison Malonson
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