Dear Saks Fifth Avenue CEO, Moschino and buyers:

It would appear that you are unaware that our country is in the midst of a severe epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose deaths – acknowledged by the federal government as the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history. According to the CDC, in 2014 47,055 people died of an accidental drug overdose - with 29,467 of those from opioid related drugs which includes prescription pain medication and heroin. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in this country. The studies show that four out of five of those that became addicted to heroin started with a legal prescription from their physician after an injury or a medical procedure was performed.

These accessory items you are choosing to market and sell to the public for profit, which include the Chain-Strap Prescription Bottle Bag and Printed Backpack, will most likely promote more drug use. Do you have any idea of the message your company is sending to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to a drug overdose? Have you not seen the countless number of media reports on overdose deaths from prescription pain medication, including the rock and roll icon Prince? Do you have no moral responsibility in what type of products your company promotes for public use? I’m one of the lucky ones who has not yet lost a loved one to this epidemic. I work as an alcohol and drug counselor in Minneapolis, MN and I can tell you firsthand the havoc addiction has on the individual, the family, the community, the healthcare system and the country.

I implore you to immediately remove these items and their images from any and all sales locations. Until these items and images are removed, I - and all those I know - will not patronize your business. In fact, I will be sure to tell everyone or anyone I come in contact with that they should not do business with any company that so blatantly promotes drug use and perpetuates the stigma of addiction.