Today, with the support of Congressman John Moolenaar, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation extending the federal order keeping fentanyl-related substances on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
“This legislation is vital to the fight against the opioid epidemic and it will help law enforcement keep fentanyl and related drugs off the streets so our communities stay safe,” said Congressman Moolenaar. "The opioid crisis has hurt families across mid and northern Michigan, and this legislation will help stop the flow of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues that are brought into the United States from other countries."
Criminal organizations intentionally make small changes in the chemical makeup of fentanyl and its analogues, making it difficult to ban specific compounds before they can be classified as Schedule 1 drugs. This legislation ensures that all deadly fentanyl analogues are automatically categorized as Schedule 1 and will make it easier for law enforcement to prosecute manufacturers and traffickers of those illicit drugs.
In Michigan, drug overdose deaths involving opioids killed 2,385 residents in 2019. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl and fentanyl analogues) have remained high over the past several years with 1,458 deaths in 2019.
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