CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General continues to call for more action to curb the growth of and the use of fentanyl into the state and nation.
On December 5, Morrisey conducted a press conference to discuss new measures he wants to take, and he was joined by the families of eight people who have died from fentanyl use.
The families shared stories of their loved ones while carrying photos of them during a news conference. West Virginia had 1,194 fentanyl and other synthetic opioid deaths in 2021, up from 1,083 in 2020, a 10% increase.
“Enough is enough. Far too many people are dying because of this menace,” Morrisey said during the press conference. “It is these families’ voices that must be heard, their warnings that we must hear and their calls to action that we must heed.
“As public servants, we have the sworn duty to use all our power within the boundaries of the law to protect our citizens. The stakes are too high and failure is not an option.”
Morrisey announce new steps his office will be taking in the fight against the proliferation of fentanyl. He said the problem all starts at the nation’s southern border, which is “a complete and total disaster.”
“Chinese chemical manufacturers are making and sending the raw ingredients to make fentanyl to Mexican drug cartels, which are in turn making and trafficking fentanyl at an industrial scale,” Morrisey said. “But in the face of this evolving and significant problem, the federal government has seemed content to stand by.”
The AG also renewed his call for President Joe Biden to classify fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction in response to the record increase in overdose deaths related to the substance. This action would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration to coordinate a response with other agencies, including the Department of Defense — as opposed to the federal government only treating the substance as a narcotics control problem.
Morrisey said some of his office plans are:
* In litigation against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, filing a motion seeking to set aside the termination of Remain in Mexico, a Trump-era policy that improved the situation along the southern border, limiting the flow of illegally trafficked drugs and people.
* Calling on the new Republican House majority to conduct extensive oversight of the U.S. Department of State's efforts to address fentanyl in dealings with China and Mexico. Specifically, Morrisey says he'll be calling for Congressional hearings to have U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken testify on what the Biden administration has done.
Morrisey also said he continues to call on social media companies to take action and do their part in preventing drug dealers from using their platforms to peddle fentanyl. He recently sent letters to the CEOs of seven major social media companies, including Meta Platforms (Facebook), Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, TikTok, Discord and Telegram. Some of those companies – Meta, Snapchat and TikTok – have sent responses.
“We all have to do our part in getting rid of this menace that has plagued not only West Virginia, but the entire nation, resulting in countless deaths and lives torn apart,” Morrisey said. “It’s time for these social media giants to use their power and prevent drug dealers from destroying more lives.”
Among those who attended the news conference was Tracy McNees of Parkersburg, who lost her son Beau Allen Patterson from fentanyl in 2017. He was 23.
“Beau was a much loved son, brother, grandson, cousin, uncle and friend, and is missed by so many,” McNees said. “He was very intelligent, gifted, creative, intuitive and kind-hearted. He deserved so much more and he certainly did not deserve to die.”
Christina Nuce of Morgantown lost her 31-year-old son Daniel to fentanyl in 2021.
“This has to stop—fentanyl is killing so many people,” she said. “I know in my heart nothing will bring him back, but I would like to see justice for Daniel. No parent should have to endure this pain and torment every single day.”