Social Work Student Challenges False Narratives on Immigration and America’s Opioid Crisis

A Boston University School of Social Work student has sparked renewed debate over immigration policy and the opioid epidemic through a compelling op-ed published in the Florida Times-Union. Brooke Long, an MSW candidate at the university, presents evidence that contradicts politically-charged narratives linking the nation’s drug crisis to immigration.

The op-ed confronts what Long describes as a calculated effort by some politicians to conflate unrelated issues—specifically immigration and the fentanyl epidemic—despite clear data showing no substantive connection between the two. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, 86.4% of fentanyl trafficking offenders in 2023 were U.S. citizens, not immigrants or foreign nationals as often suggested in political discourse.

Long’s analysis is further supported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics revealing that more than 90% of fentanyl seizures occur at official ports of entry, not through illegal border crossings that immigration enforcement would typically target.

“Following the money and other data, a new story emerges to spotlight the fact that immigration and the opioid crisis are not only separate issues within society, but issues that have received vastly different attention from the current administration,” writes Long in her published piece.

Public health experts have long expressed concern about the mischaracterization of the opioid crisis, which diverts attention and resources from evidence-based solutions. The epidemic claimed nearly 107,000 American lives in 2022 alone, according to CDC data, making it one of the nation’s most pressing public health emergencies.

Long argues that the consequences of these false narratives extend beyond mere rhetoric—they shape policy priorities and funding allocations. Her analysis shows that while immigration enforcement has received significant budget increases, critical healthcare funding for substance use disorder treatment, particularly through Medicaid, has faced cuts or limitations.

Dr. Sarah Wakeman, medical director for substance use disorder at Massachusetts General Hospital, who was not involved in the op-ed, has previously noted that “politicizing the opioid crisis delays implementation of proven harm reduction and treatment strategies that could save thousands of lives.”

The timing of Long’s commentary comes during an election cycle when immigration policy remains a contentious wedge issue. Political rhetoric frequently positions border security as a solution to the opioid crisis, despite public health experts consistently emphasizing that domestic prescribing practices, socioeconomic factors, and mental health issues are more significant drivers.

Long’s academic background in social work provides a unique lens for examining how policy narratives impact vulnerable populations. Social workers frequently serve on the frontlines of both immigration services and addiction treatment, offering perspective on how political decisions affect real communities.

“We the people have the responsibility to hold our leaders accountable for addressing pressing public issues, especially when they campaign on those very issues,” Long asserts in her conclusion. “It’s time for us to take a critical lens to the narratives at play in our current political climate so that we can rewrite a story of which we, as a nation, can be proud.”

The publication highlights the increasing role of academic voices in public policy debates, particularly when evidence-based approaches clash with political narratives. Long’s analysis demonstrates how data and research can challenge misinformation and connect complex issues to community impacts.

As the nation continues to grapple with both immigration policy reform and an ongoing public health emergency in opioid addiction, voices like Long’s add critical perspective to the national conversation about how resources should be allocated to address genuine rather than manufactured crises.