Op: Ed: Fentanyl Crisis - Rockland’s Strategy, Call For Federal Action

The following opinion was shared by a Patch reader.

Thomas E. Walsh II is Rockland County District Attorney.

In every corner of Rockland County, an unseen evil creeps through our communities, leaving sorrow and devastation in its wake.

Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, is claiming our neighbors, friends, and family, irrespective of age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

In 2022 alone, opioid overdoses stole the lives of 5,413 New Yorkers, translating to a heart-wrenching rate of approximately one death every two hours. The same year, a staggering 79% of overdose deaths in Rockland were attributed to fentanyl, illuminating a harrowing crisis demanding our steadfast attention and action.

Throughout my tenure as District Attorney, I’ve witnessed firsthand the pain and destruction brought by fentanyl. But amidst the heartache, I see hope for the future and a pathway toward mitigating this devastating epidemic.

My office employs a dual-pronged strategy against this menace: relentless prosecution of traffickers alongside supportive intervention for those grappling with addiction. This balanced approach has proved both effective and empathetic in our ongoing battle.

Our efforts to stem the tide of drug trafficking in Rockland have yielded tangible results. Last week, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force arrested seven Rockland County residents accused of selling cocaine, fentanyl, and prescription pills following a months-long investigation into narcotics sales in the Village of Spring Valley, Town of Clarkstown, and the Town and Village of Haverstraw. And just days earlier, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced that Rockland Drug Task Force investigators were part of an operation that recovered over 100 pounds of suspected cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone carrying an estimated street value of $4 million.

Beyond mere judicial actions, these efforts signify critical strikes against the trafficking apparatus that fuels addiction and despair in our communities. By dismantling networks that perpetuate pain and loss, we safeguard futures and families from the clutches of these lethal substances.

However, the magnitude of this crisis makes it clear that the road to a fentanyl-free future cannot be built upon arrests and prosecutions alone.

Intrinsically intertwined with the insidious trafficking networks is the perpetual demand created by the despair of addiction, a despair that traffickers exploit and upon which their illicit trade thrives. A truly effective strategy must, therefore, not only dismantle the supply chains but also stifle the demand by addressing the root cause – addiction itself.

Project Connect, a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, is one of the responsible, forward-thinking initiatives our office supports to combat this epidemic by providing a lifeline to those entwined in the struggle against addiction.

First piloted with the Clarkstown Police Department and now implemented with the Orangetown, Ramapo, and Haverstraw Police Departments, Project Connect takes a person-first approach for eligible individuals, divesting from punitive measures for low-level, nonviolent offenses, and instead offering them a chance to redirect their path away from incarceration and towards constructive recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration, ultimately benefiting both the individual and society.

Yet, even with our local efforts, fentanyl continues to permeate our borders and streets at an alarming rate, with New York’s opioid overdose death rate quadrupling over the past decade.

This is an issue far bigger than Rockland County; it is a national crisis that demands federal attention and action. There are steps that the federal government can — and must — take to mitigate the impact and restrict the flow of fentanyl into our communities.

• Enhanced Border Security: The majority of fentanyl infiltrating our communities is produced outside our borders. Strengthening our border controls through increased personnel, advanced technology, and canine units specifically trained to detect fentanyl is paramount.
• Investment in Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) Programs: The government should substantially increase funding for local initiatives, like Project Connect and Hope Not Handcuffs, which directly engage with and support our neighbors in their battles against addiction.
• Expansion of Treatment Accessibility: Every individual, regardless of socio-economic status, should have equitable access to quality treatment and rehabilitation services. Federal subsidies and investments in local treatment facilities and programs can be pivotal in achieving this.

Fentanyl’s devastation isn't just Rockland County's fight it's America's battle, and it demands a collective response.

I call upon federal leaders to heed this crisis and to look beyond party lines and bureaucratic barriers. Enhanced border security, stronger international collaboration, support for community-based programs, and expanded treatment access are crucial to curbing this epidemic.

The time for comprehensive, determined action is now. Let’s work together, not just as a county or state but as a nation, to end the fentanyl crisis once and for all.