FRANKFORT, KY (February 28, 2023) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today continued his fight against the opioid epidemic by holding an "Operation Fight Fentanyl" forum in Pendleton County. The event allowed Attorney General Cameron's office to hear from stakeholders and community members regarding the impact of fentanyl and discuss possible solutions. This is the second event held by Attorney General Cameron to push back against the opioid epidemic.
"Far too many Kentuckians have lost their lives to overdoses, and Operation Fight Fentanyl is part of an ongoing effort to stem the tide of this epidemic," said Attorney General Cameron. "Hearing from citizens in Pendleton County and the surrounding communities is an important part of this work, and we appreciate those who came to the forum to share their experiences and discuss ways to put a stop to this scourge."
Attorney General Cameron was joined in Falmouth by a panel of law enforcement, prosecutor, and community partners, including a mother who lost her daughter to fentanyl poisoning.
"In 2021, fentanyl was the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45," said Executive Director of the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission Bryan Hubbard. "This statistic indicates that the opioid crisis has become a fentanyl crisis, and Operation Fight Fentanyl is one more way Attorney General Cameron is working alongside Kentuckians to tackle the opioid epidemic."
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's latest report, nearly 70,000 people died from overdose of synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, in the 12-moth period ending in August 2022. In 2021, the Commonwealth lost 2,250 Kentuckians to overdose death, and fentanyl was detected in more than 70 percent of these cases.
In September, Attorney General Cameron joined a bi-partisan coalition of 18 attorneys general in urging President Biden to classify fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD).
Earlier this month, he also joined 21 attorneys general in asking the Biden Administration to designate certain Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). This is Attorney General Cameron's latest effort to protect Kentucky communities from the dangers of fentanyl.
The next Operation Fight Fentanyl forum will be held in Whitley County on March 15, 2023. To learn more about Operation Fight Fentanyl, click here.
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