More than two decades ago, following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the U.S. government took serious action in response to the incidents that resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths.

The Taliban, who sheltered the attackers in Afghanistan, was ousted, and al-Qaida leaders were systematically pursued. Airport security regulations were reinforced, and then-President George W. Bush urged intelligence and law enforcement agencies to enhance their collaboration and eliminate coordination barriers. This strong and commendable response has largely kept us safer from international terrorism ever since.

In contrast, we now confront a different global danger, one that claims lives at a staggering rate equivalent to those lost on 9/11 every 10 days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses resulted in 107,543 American deaths last year.

A significant portion of that grim statistic, specifically at least 74,702 deaths, was due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl — similar to the number of COVID-19-related deaths observed in 2023.

The Fentanyl Crisis Affects Too Many Families, Including Mine

The majority of fentanyl is produced from precursor chemicals in China and manufactured in Mexico, subsequently entering the U.S. mainly through traditional methods like cars and cargo. Additionally, the drug overdose crisis imposes a significant financial burden, estimated by Congress’ Joint Economic Committee to cost $1.5 trillion as of 2020.

This tragic epidemic has affected countless American families — including mine, as we lost our brave son Jonathan seven years ago due to an accidental overdose from heroin laced with fentanyl during his struggle with addiction recovery.

Notably, the capture of two prominent members of a Mexican cartel in late July exemplifies effective collaboration among the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Department of Homeland Security.

However, similar to the landscape before 9/11, the agencies tasked with intercepting fentanyl and similar substances have not been collaborating as closely as necessary — unlike their coordinated efforts against terrorism that emerged after the September 11 attacks. Barriers to cooperation in law enforcement and intelligence persist.

Treat Fentanyl Traffickers Like 9/11 Terrorists

Despite strong denials from officials, rivalries at the operational level among various government organizations are still prevalent. One agency might worry that sharing intel could risk revealing a valuable source or endanger an active investigation backing a prosecution.

Coordinating information sharing isn’t instinctive when agencies are separated physically, and relevant personnel are not in the same location. In extreme instances, knowledge may be hoarded as a means to exert influence or maintain institutional pride.

To remedy these challenges, President Joe Biden unveiled a national security memorandum on July 31, which draws upon a report from the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, recognizing fentanyl-related fatalities as a national security issue.

The memorandum instructs every government department to intensify its efforts against this epidemic and enhance information sharing to take on the crisis effectively. It further establishes a Fentanyl Disruption Steering Group led by the National Security Council to oversee these initiatives.

While this may not seem glamorous, it is absolutely essential.

Specifically, the president’s memorandum designates fentanyl as a distinct intelligence priority. It instructs agencies to collaboratively improve intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination; create a shared threat assessment; expedite information sharing; and promote collaboration to support strategic disruption initiatives.

The memorandum also advocates treating fentanyl traffickers similarly to terrorists in terms of surveillance and tracking methods.

Furthermore, it calls for enhanced coordination with private sector stakeholders across various sectors, such as shipping, freight forwarding, e-commerce, and social media. Indeed, there is a critical need for improved technology and greater capacity for surveillance at points of entry, including borders and package handling centers.

The Transportation Security Administration has made certain adjustments, which may inconvenience travelers, to Improving safety in air travel is crucial. To combat the rising trend of fentanyl-related deaths, Americans may need to accommodate similar inconveniences when crossing borders and receiving packages.

The surge in overdose deaths, particularly in the United States compared to other affluent countries, stems from a complex interplay of supply and demand. There isn’t a straightforward fix. One significant barrier has been the stigma surrounding addiction, reminiscent of the challenges faced during the HIV/AIDS crisis, hampering collective efforts nationwide.

We can prevent more families from enduring this heartbreak by utilizing every available resource and intensifying our initiatives in prevention, treatment, and interdiction.

The opioid crisis deserves attention alongside the presidential campaign; it should be a central issue in the discussions.

During their upcoming debate on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump should be held accountable to share their strategies for addressing the opioid crisis and be urged to commit to ongoing efforts regarding the fentanyl situation we face daily.

James ‘Sandy’ Winnefeld is a retired Navy admiral and was the ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He co-chairs SAFE Project, which aims to eliminate the opioid crisis, and chairs the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.