Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced this week a measure designed to help reduce synthetic drug access.
The Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act seeks to make permanent the current, temporary classification of fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.
“The number of overdose deaths across the country annually due to illegal fentanyl-related substances is tragic and alarming,” Buchanan said. “These illegal drugs are destroying lives and families not only in our backyard here in Southwest Florida but across the country. It’s clear we need to do much more to address this growing epidemic.”
The legislators indicated fentanyl is a synthetic drug similar to heroin but is 50 times more powerful and often manufactured in foreign countries and mailed into the United States.
“This bill is one more tool for law enforcement to use to fight back against the illegal fentanyl producers, smugglers, and dealers who are directly responsible for the deaths of so many Americans and reduce the amount of illegal fentanyl on our streets,” Buchanan said.
The Centers for Disease Control said more than 36,000 deaths in 2019 involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogs – accounting for nearly 73 percent of all opioid-involved deaths. Additionally, Florida experienced a nearly 35 percent increase in overdose deaths attributed to synthetic opioids in 2019.
“Opioid abuse is ruining lives, destroying families, and exacerbating public resources created to respond to overdoses in Florida,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said. “Fentanyl is a major force behind the increasing number of opioid deaths. This important legislation could help save lives in Florida and across our nation.”