Washington, DC – Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) and 116 of her House Republican colleagues sent a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to take immediate action to stem the fentanyl scourge coming from China and across the southern border, and support making fentanyl related substances Schedule I classification permanent. Rep. Cheney issued the following statement after the letter was sent to the President:
“The opioid epidemic continues to cause families pain in Wyoming and across the country. I am proud to join my colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to make permanent the Schedule I classification of fentanyl and fentanyl related substances in order to protect our communities from the scourge of fentanyl coming from China and across our southern border. Too many have suffered because of this epidemic, and it is time to secure our border and do everything we can to stop these dangerous substances from impacting our communities.”
The full letter can be read here and seen below:
BACKGROUND:
Fentanyl related substances have been on a temporary scheduling for Schedule I classification. The Schedule I classification will expire March 11, 2022 when government funding expires. The letter seeks to make the Schedule I classification of fentanyl and fentanyl related substances permanent, meaning no medical benefit for this drug.
Drug overdoses have claimed more Americans lives each year than ever before. Fentanyl and fentanyl related substances are fueling the overdose epidemic, killing 64,178 Americans between May 2020 and April 2021 and making up 64% of total U.S. overdose deaths. This highly lethal synthetic opioid is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
Original source can be found here.
