To combat the fentanyl crisis, we should treat dealers like terrorists

Twenty-three years ago, after September 11, the U.S. government organized a vigorous response to the terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

The Taliban regime that harbored the attackers in Afghanistan was overthrown. Al-Qaeda leaders were systematically hunted down. Airport security was tightened. And then-President George W. Bush called on our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to overcome coordination barriers and work more closely together. This admirable, forceful response has kept us relatively well protected from international terrorism ever since.

Today the country faces another international threat that is claiming as many lives as 9/11. every 10 days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,543 Americans died of drug overdoses last year.