Need peer review - If I can get a peer review and let me know three areas of weakness for my Argumentative essay
Bring awareness to the Fentanyl Crisis
You see them everywhere you go. The large amounts adults of all ages on the streets all-round the United States. Frozen like a statue, laying in bus stops looking lifeless, a real crisis caused by fentanyl. How aware are we about the impact that this addition brings amongst millions of young adults each year who experiment a drug and get addicted? This essay is going to bring you UpToDate with real facts about the history of Fentanyl, what is happening and include information on what the local Arizona community is doing. In order to have a fair fight against Fentanyl, simply providing access to emergency supplies like Narcan in our schools is not enough. Our communities must unite to rapidly educate our young adults and teens about the dangerous reality of fentanyl, bring awareness, resources and mandatory education to save the lives and help prevent deaths that stem from this deadly crisis.
In 1998 Fentanyl was introduced by the food and drug administration as an approved pharmaceutical to relieve pain (USAfacts team). This was the first of its kind to be subscribed to treat cancer pains and other chronic pain. It wasn't long after this approval that increase in overdose deaths began due to the increase of drug prescriptions. This was the start of something that we call now a crisis. By the early 2000's the first wave of overdose began to include fentanyl and other opioids that were also being form at the same time as OxyContin (Centers for disease Control and Pervention). People quickly realized that the drug was doing more harm than good and needed to get it under control right away.
In recent years there has been a decrease of prescribed opioids deaths because of the decline in prescriptions however there has been a substantial increase in synthetic opioids because of the illegal manufacture of fentanyl that is coming from overseas (USAfacts team). This drug is highly addictive and easily street accessible, with most of its availability being shipped from labs and smuggled across the US-Mexico border illegally (USAfacts team). What many don't know is that this drug is not just in its original form but rather its being created in labs where ingredients t can be unknown and the user could be unaware.
The opioid is highly addictive because of the power it has and because of what the drugs labs are doing when they are making the drug. Drug labs are now mixing fentanyl with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and even meth to increase the effects of it without the persons knowledge (USAfacts team). When abused to that level fentanyl causes the brain to suffocate by decreasing the oxygen supply causing hypoxia and hyperglycemia as well ("Fentanyl"). This is that stillness frozen statue look you see at the bust stop bench, the medical emergency of the lifeless looking body you see all around. Other signs to watch for when identify fentanyl is Pinpoint pupils, slow breathing a limp body and bluish skin that just to name a few. (Maricopa County). For additional contexts fentanyl is now an opioid that could be up to 50 time stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger the morphine (USAfacts team). This killer drug I not to be dismissed. This drug needs all the attention it needs to get the deaths under control. People are not aware the dangers this drug bring especially at the level that it his adapted to which is the drug lab made.
This is why being well informed is critical to help the fentanyl crisis. Let's discusses in terms of numbers, in Arizona by 2015 the increase in overdose deaths have increased by 4,900%. Specifically in Maricopa County more than three people die every day on average due to fentanyl ("Focus on Fentanyl Maricopa County, AZ"). By 2016 Fentanyl overdose deaths surpassed both prescribed opioids and heroin nationwide (USAfacts team). These numbers are increasing daily and by the second. Since the early 1990's fentanyl use has shown marks of addiction and abuse by users and its critical that young adults understand that its not just a prescription. If it isn't meant or assigned to you it isn't for you. Lives are being taken so quickly. If we can all just pause and be informed confidently, we can work together towards a solve for the crisis and contribute to what is already in the works to stop the fentanyl crisis nationally.
Many things are being done at the national level to help stop the crisis. In 2025 US president Donald Trump signed into law the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or also known as the HALT Fentanyl Act. This law gives harsher punishment of if found importing, distributing and manufacturing any illicit fentanyl-related substance making fentanyl as schedule I drug (The National Desk). Minimum sentence if found guilty would be 10 years in prison. This law stemmed from the drug being the leading cause of deaths for Americans between the ages of 18-45. Giving a harsher punishment allows for the government to do their part. It sets the tone of what the American people's lives are worth. They are not going to allow this drug to be distribuend in plain view rather they will be doing everything it takes to get this crisis under control.
Following was that the governments designated Fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. President Trump on December 15, 2025, sign it as an executive order. With this signing it ordered the Secretary of State and the United States Treasury to purse any relevant assets and financial institutions with any involvements of illicit fentanyl and its chemicals. For example, this would allow the government to connect with local banks to gather financial records of someone who is being prosecuted and liquidate their monies, that would only be one example. As well it gives orders to all heads of executive department agencies to take all actions to eliminate the threat of illicitly fentanyl and its core chemicals in the United States ("Designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction"). This power allows for the agencies to collaborate and be united towards the fight of the Fentanyl crisis. People's lives matter and the governments is exhausting all there options to ensure no area is missed.
Lastly at the ports of entry the Department of homeland security is doing everything in their power to stop the substances from entering the United States. Starting with intercepting drugs and chemical at all ports of entry. In doing so they have seen success with breaking the drug cartels and supply chains and making it harder for them to enter. They are also partnering with federal, state and local agencies to keep all communication open and share their findings to help communities be better prepared for the crisis (Fentanyl Homeland Security"). Again the agencies collaboration continues to strengthen with every process the government. In doing so they are giving the states the opportunity to control there local communities while they help control the nation as a whole.
While all that is being done in the national level, Arizona has little action taking place. In May of 2024 A taskforce called STOP-IT was created by the Arizona Department of Education to help some schools be trained with overdoes preparedness and educate adults about fentanyl ("Stopit"). This includes providing Narcan to selected schools that are participating. Another action being done by another agency is the Arizona Department of Safety. They designed a "One Pill Can Kill" campaign to help being awareness to communities about the dangerous of counterfeit prescription pills (Fentanyl Department of Public Safety). They advocate that staying informed, carrying Narcan and knowing where to help can stop tragedies from happening (Fentanyl Department of Public Safety). This is a great direction in getting education to the schools but leaving it up as an option just isn't enough. Especially since Arizona's leading killer is fentanyl, in teens and young adults.
In a lot of the resources that are provided from local government agencies in Arizona many mention the Arizona good Samaritan Law. While The Arizona Good Samaritan Law was created way before the fentanyl crisis, in 2023 due to the local drug overdose crisis Arizona had included an extension to the law to protect drug overdose (Maricopa County) What this means is that anyone could report overdose and not be arrested for it or prosecuted. This law would also protect the person who was overdosing from the drug. This would allow for the community to come together to help one enough without the fear of criminal consequences. Rather they would be speared if protecting their lives or someone else's. In 2017, 37 fentanyl cases were prosecuted and by 2022 the fentanyl cases increased by 6,629 (Maricopa County). Specifically in Maricopa county the Maricopa County sheriff's office seizes millions of fentanyl pills yearly (Maricopa County) . That will give insight that this drug is fast and expanding quicker the ever.
While Arizona has some campaigns in place as well as laws its not enough to immediately address the deaths in our local community just yet. A solution of having an informational social media ad directly targeting the audience of teens and young adults could do just that. The community organizations who already have the information about what is happing with the crisis could collaborate with large social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram etc. and create an ad that is eye catching to audience. Within the ad there would be resources on being informed about fentanyl and provide links for outcomes and provide support. Since social media is only one form of where people are getting the illegal drugs, providing a censorship and block searches when trying to locate the drug. Similarly, mental health and body imaging is already among topics in censorship when it comes to social media accounts for teens, why not include fentanyl awareness.
Another solution would be having a government funding course similar to DARE (Drugs Abuse Resistance Education), although that program, didn't see much success, it's important that we attend to audience we have today and create a course that brings attention and awareness to teens. With the new and improved course, it would be requiring every middle school and high school to provide an in class presentation of UpToDate education about all lethal drugs that are causing deaths. This will include education, resources and a local connection to teens. They would be able contact with confidentiality and private if they have any concerns. This solution would allow for teens and young adults to be able to advocate for themselves. Many young people's lives are at risk because no one is being transparent with them and making not meeting them face to face. This drug is deadly and taking it only once time could cost, you're life. Unfortunately, that's been the sad reality to many. This course would be evolved and studied to ensure that awareness is known. People in this age range are our future it's time we protect them.
While a lot of the solutions presented our done by social media and local schools another educator would be children's pediatrician. Having our doctors starting at the age of 13 during their annual wellness check, ask mandatory questions and provide information about the drug including resources such as a pamphlet. This could allow teens the opportunity to discuss with someone they are familiar with rather than with someone they don't know. Having another trusted individually within the community would help strengthen the presents of unity within a teens circle. As well as show that we are all in this together and its everyone's responsibility to save a life and become educated to prevent additional tragedies.
Fentanyl, while providing pain relief to cancer patience's and others with chronic pain has significantly taking so many lives in a rapid rate. The importance of being informed is what is necessary to pull through and see progress with the fentanyl deadly crisis. Through the combination of what the United States government is doing and their agencies. Local community's and social media platforms have a responsibility to do more and help locally. By everyone taking a bite into gaining factual knowledge and sharing that information can help the number of deaths drastically and take our communities forward. Everyone deserves a second chance at life a mistake shouldn't be the end of one.
Bring awareness to the Fentanyl Crisis
You see them everywhere you go. The large amounts adults of all ages on the streets all-round the United States. Frozen like a statue, laying in bus stops looking lifeless, a real crisis caused by fentanyl. How aware are we about the impact that this addition brings amongst millions of young adults each year who experiment a drug and get addicted? This essay is going to bring you UpToDate with real facts about the history of Fentanyl, what is happening and include information on what the local Arizona community is doing. In order to have a fair fight against Fentanyl, simply providing access to emergency supplies like Narcan in our schools is not enough. Our communities must unite to rapidly educate our young adults and teens about the dangerous reality of fentanyl, bring awareness, resources and mandatory education to save the lives and help prevent deaths that stem from this deadly crisis.
In 1998 Fentanyl was introduced by the food and drug administration as an approved pharmaceutical to relieve pain (USAfacts team). This was the first of its kind to be subscribed to treat cancer pains and other chronic pain. It wasn't long after this approval that increase in overdose deaths began due to the increase of drug prescriptions. This was the start of something that we call now a crisis. By the early 2000's the first wave of overdose began to include fentanyl and other opioids that were also being form at the same time as OxyContin (Centers for disease Control and Pervention). People quickly realized that the drug was doing more harm than good and needed to get it under control right away.
In recent years there has been a decrease of prescribed opioids deaths because of the decline in prescriptions however there has been a substantial increase in synthetic opioids because of the illegal manufacture of fentanyl that is coming from overseas (USAfacts team). This drug is highly addictive and easily street accessible, with most of its availability being shipped from labs and smuggled across the US-Mexico border illegally (USAfacts team). What many don't know is that this drug is not just in its original form but rather its being created in labs where ingredients t can be unknown and the user could be unaware.
The opioid is highly addictive because of the power it has and because of what the drugs labs are doing when they are making the drug. Drug labs are now mixing fentanyl with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and even meth to increase the effects of it without the persons knowledge (USAfacts team). When abused to that level fentanyl causes the brain to suffocate by decreasing the oxygen supply causing hypoxia and hyperglycemia as well ("Fentanyl"). This is that stillness frozen statue look you see at the bust stop bench, the medical emergency of the lifeless looking body you see all around. Other signs to watch for when identify fentanyl is Pinpoint pupils, slow breathing a limp body and bluish skin that just to name a few. (Maricopa County). For additional contexts fentanyl is now an opioid that could be up to 50 time stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger the morphine (USAfacts team). This killer drug I not to be dismissed. This drug needs all the attention it needs to get the deaths under control. People are not aware the dangers this drug bring especially at the level that it his adapted to which is the drug lab made.
This is why being well informed is critical to help the fentanyl crisis. Let's discusses in terms of numbers, in Arizona by 2015 the increase in overdose deaths have increased by 4,900%. Specifically in Maricopa County more than three people die every day on average due to fentanyl ("Focus on Fentanyl Maricopa County, AZ"). By 2016 Fentanyl overdose deaths surpassed both prescribed opioids and heroin nationwide (USAfacts team). These numbers are increasing daily and by the second. Since the early 1990's fentanyl use has shown marks of addiction and abuse by users and its critical that young adults understand that its not just a prescription. If it isn't meant or assigned to you it isn't for you. Lives are being taken so quickly. If we can all just pause and be informed confidently, we can work together towards a solve for the crisis and contribute to what is already in the works to stop the fentanyl crisis nationally.
Many things are being done at the national level to help stop the crisis. In 2025 US president Donald Trump signed into law the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or also known as the HALT Fentanyl Act. This law gives harsher punishment of if found importing, distributing and manufacturing any illicit fentanyl-related substance making fentanyl as schedule I drug (The National Desk). Minimum sentence if found guilty would be 10 years in prison. This law stemmed from the drug being the leading cause of deaths for Americans between the ages of 18-45. Giving a harsher punishment allows for the government to do their part. It sets the tone of what the American people's lives are worth. They are not going to allow this drug to be distribuend in plain view rather they will be doing everything it takes to get this crisis under control.
Following was that the governments designated Fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. President Trump on December 15, 2025, sign it as an executive order. With this signing it ordered the Secretary of State and the United States Treasury to purse any relevant assets and financial institutions with any involvements of illicit fentanyl and its chemicals. For example, this would allow the government to connect with local banks to gather financial records of someone who is being prosecuted and liquidate their monies, that would only be one example. As well it gives orders to all heads of executive department agencies to take all actions to eliminate the threat of illicitly fentanyl and its core chemicals in the United States ("Designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction"). This power allows for the agencies to collaborate and be united towards the fight of the Fentanyl crisis. People's lives matter and the governments is exhausting all there options to ensure no area is missed.
Lastly at the ports of entry the Department of homeland security is doing everything in their power to stop the substances from entering the United States. Starting with intercepting drugs and chemical at all ports of entry. In doing so they have seen success with breaking the drug cartels and supply chains and making it harder for them to enter. They are also partnering with federal, state and local agencies to keep all communication open and share their findings to help communities be better prepared for the crisis (Fentanyl Homeland Security"). Again the agencies collaboration continues to strengthen with every process the government. In doing so they are giving the states the opportunity to control there local communities while they help control the nation as a whole.
While all that is being done in the national level, Arizona has little action taking place. In May of 2024 A taskforce called STOP-IT was created by the Arizona Department of Education to help some schools be trained with overdoes preparedness and educate adults about fentanyl ("Stopit"). This includes providing Narcan to selected schools that are participating. Another action being done by another agency is the Arizona Department of Safety. They designed a "One Pill Can Kill" campaign to help being awareness to communities about the dangerous of counterfeit prescription pills (Fentanyl Department of Public Safety). They advocate that staying informed, carrying Narcan and knowing where to help can stop tragedies from happening (Fentanyl Department of Public Safety). This is a great direction in getting education to the schools but leaving it up as an option just isn't enough. Especially since Arizona's leading killer is fentanyl, in teens and young adults.
In a lot of the resources that are provided from local government agencies in Arizona many mention the Arizona good Samaritan Law. While The Arizona Good Samaritan Law was created way before the fentanyl crisis, in 2023 due to the local drug overdose crisis Arizona had included an extension to the law to protect drug overdose (Maricopa County) What this means is that anyone could report overdose and not be arrested for it or prosecuted. This law would also protect the person who was overdosing from the drug. This would allow for the community to come together to help one enough without the fear of criminal consequences. Rather they would be speared if protecting their lives or someone else's. In 2017, 37 fentanyl cases were prosecuted and by 2022 the fentanyl cases increased by 6,629 (Maricopa County). Specifically in Maricopa county the Maricopa County sheriff's office seizes millions of fentanyl pills yearly (Maricopa County) . That will give insight that this drug is fast and expanding quicker the ever.
While Arizona has some campaigns in place as well as laws its not enough to immediately address the deaths in our local community just yet. A solution of having an informational social media ad directly targeting the audience of teens and young adults could do just that. The community organizations who already have the information about what is happing with the crisis could collaborate with large social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram etc. and create an ad that is eye catching to audience. Within the ad there would be resources on being informed about fentanyl and provide links for outcomes and provide support. Since social media is only one form of where people are getting the illegal drugs, providing a censorship and block searches when trying to locate the drug. Similarly, mental health and body imaging is already among topics in censorship when it comes to social media accounts for teens, why not include fentanyl awareness.
Another solution would be having a government funding course similar to DARE (Drugs Abuse Resistance Education), although that program, didn't see much success, it's important that we attend to audience we have today and create a course that brings attention and awareness to teens. With the new and improved course, it would be requiring every middle school and high school to provide an in class presentation of UpToDate education about all lethal drugs that are causing deaths. This will include education, resources and a local connection to teens. They would be able contact with confidentiality and private if they have any concerns. This solution would allow for teens and young adults to be able to advocate for themselves. Many young people's lives are at risk because no one is being transparent with them and making not meeting them face to face. This drug is deadly and taking it only once time could cost, you're life. Unfortunately, that's been the sad reality to many. This course would be evolved and studied to ensure that awareness is known. People in this age range are our future it's time we protect them.
While a lot of the solutions presented our done by social media and local schools another educator would be children's pediatrician. Having our doctors starting at the age of 13 during their annual wellness check, ask mandatory questions and provide information about the drug including resources such as a pamphlet. This could allow teens the opportunity to discuss with someone they are familiar with rather than with someone they don't know. Having another trusted individually within the community would help strengthen the presents of unity within a teens circle. As well as show that we are all in this together and its everyone's responsibility to save a life and become educated to prevent additional tragedies.
Fentanyl, while providing pain relief to cancer patience's and others with chronic pain has significantly taking so many lives in a rapid rate. The importance of being informed is what is necessary to pull through and see progress with the fentanyl deadly crisis. Through the combination of what the United States government is doing and their agencies. Local community's and social media platforms have a responsibility to do more and help locally. By everyone taking a bite into gaining factual knowledge and sharing that information can help the number of deaths drastically and take our communities forward. Everyone deserves a second chance at life a mistake shouldn't be the end of one.
