It’s primarily drugs. We have been watching this drama play out since the 1990s. But we don’t do much about it so long as they’re mostly killing each other. The Democrats know exactly what the deal is and they bear plenty of the blame for the creation of this situation but that’s no reason to not exploit the situation.
I agree: drugs are the common denominator to many violent urban issues.
But what is this “opioid epidemic” nonsense? Always thought an epidemic involves communicable disease or pestilence ? Another attempt to make the folks who choose to use drugs victims instead of willing participants? I don’t advocate throwing drug users in jail but one of the first steps to kicking any habit (alcohol, drugs, tobacco) is to own up to the addiction and go forward from there. This victim mentality is counterproductive and dangerous in my opinion.