Aliscia Andrews, Candidate for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District
As a mother raising children in Loudoun County and a candidate for Congress in VA-10, I am gravely concerned about the safety and well-being of our youth. The recent surge in overdoses among students in Loudoun County Public Schools is not just a statistic, it is an urgent call to action to address the fentanyl crisis that is gripping our communities.
Loudoun County, like many counties in VA-10 and across the nation, is grappling with a devastating increase in poisonings and overdoses, particularly among our youth. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is often compounded with xylazine, a tranquilizer utilized by veterinarians, to heighten its potency. This has exacerbated the crisis, leading to tragic losses and shattered families. Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) is ineffective. This means xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of death. The alarming reality is that our children are at risk, and as a community, we must take decisive action to protect them.
According to recent data, the number of overdoses in Loudoun County schools has reached unprecedented levels. The presence of fentanyl in these cases underscores the grave danger our children face. Every overdose is not just a statistic, it’s a life interrupted, a family shattered, and a community in mourning. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this crisis.
One crucial aspect of addressing the fentanyl epidemic is holding traffickers and distributors accountable. Too often, soft-on-crime prosecutors fail to pursue justice vigorously, allowing these criminals to operate with impunity. We need prosecutors who will prioritize the safety of our communities and ensure that those responsible for peddling poison are swiftly brought to justice.
We must enact zero-tolerance legislation for anyone involved in the trafficking or distribution of fentanyl, especially those who attempt to smuggle it across borders, state lines, or near schools. This lethal substance knows no boundaries and respects no borders. We must send a clear message that those who profit from the suffering of our children will face severe consequences.
I commend Governor Youngkin’s recent actions to require Virginia schools to report overdoses to the school community within 24 hours. Transparency is essential in addressing this crisis, and parents have the right to know about incidents that affect the safety and well-being of their children. However, reporting alone is not enough, we need comprehensive strategies to prevent overdoses and disrupt the supply chain of fentanyl.
The root causes of the fentanyl crisis extend beyond our borders. Foreign entities like China are facilitating the production and distribution of dangerous chemicals like fentanyl and xylazine. They then take advantage of our wide open border to smuggle these chemicals into our country and into our communities. We cannot afford to ignore the external factors that contribute to this epidemic. We must demand accountability from all levels of government and work collaboratively to combat this scourge.
For the sake of our children, our families, and those we love, we must prioritize the safety and well-being of our community above all else. We cannot allow politics or partisanship to stand in the way of protecting our children from harm. As a mother and a concerned member of this community, I pledge to fight tirelessly for policies and initiatives that will safeguard our children and future generations.
Our children deserve nothing less.
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