In 2023, over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States, with 70% of those deaths linked to opioids like Fentanyl, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). To address this crisis, Virginia Congressman Morgan Griffith introduced a bill known as the HALT Fentanyl Act.
The HALT Fentanyl Act aims to reclassify Fentanyl and related substances from a Schedule 2 drug to a Schedule 1 drug. This change would make it easier for law enforcement to identify and prosecute Fentanyl-related offenses, as there are approximately 4,800 different analogs or Fentanyl-related substances.
Griffith explained that the bill would help law enforcement by simplifying the identification process. “We know it’s in the Fentanyl family. It’s going to be illegal,” he said. However, the bill would still allow Fentanyl to be used in specific medical and scientific situations.
Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis emphasized the ongoing problem of Fentanyl in his area. “We’ve seen a surge of Fentanyl over the last few years, mostly from pill presses,” he said. He described Fentanyl as incredibly dangerous, noting that it is more potent than heroin and OxyContin. “Three or four little micrograms are enough to overdose and kill you,” he added.
Andis expressed hope that stronger penalties would act as a deterrent. “More stringent laws on it with more penalties would certainly slow it down,” he said.
Griffith reported that the bill has passed the House and he is optimistic that it will also pass the Senate.
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