National Addiction Nonprofit Endorses Life-Saving Fentanyl Legislation Passed by the U.S. Senate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Addiction Policy Forum supports S. 3201, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act
January 24, 2020 - North Bethesda, MD - The Addiction Policy Forum, a national nonprofit representing patients and families with a mission to eliminate addiction as a major health condition, has endorsed S. 3201, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act.
With the recent explosion of fentanyl and fentanyl-related fatalities, the Drug Enforcement Agency used its regulatory authority to create a class-wide scheduling system for fentanyl analogues. This scheduling helped prevent drug dealers from using the legal system to their advantage by simply changing one or more molecules in the drug, calling it something else, and avoiding prosecution. This legislation, if enacted, would extend this emergency declaration through May 6, 2021. It is currently set to expire on February 6, 2020.
On January 16th, this legislation passed with unanimous consent in the Senate, it now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
“The most recent data available tells us that more than 70,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2017, many due to fentanyl or a fentanyl analogue. This overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation is essential to combat fentanyl and the devastation it causes in our communities nationwide. We applaud the Senate for taking this important step and urge swift consideration and passage in the House of Representatives,” says Jessica Hulsey Nickel, Founder of the Addiction Policy Forum.
“When we lost my beloved twin brother Larry,” shared Lorraine McNeil-Popper, Addiction Policy Forum’s New York Ambassador, “I vowed that not only would I continue to share the memory and accomplishments of this wonderful person, but that I would be an advocate on behalf of those in need. This important legislation will continue the important practice of stopping drug dealers from having the ability to skirt the law and ravage our communities. I hope the House of Representatives moves quickly on this legislation and sends it to the President’s desk without delay.”
“Pam and I lost our amazing daughter Courtney to a heroin overdose five years ago,” noted Doug Griffin, Addiction Policy Forum’s New Hampshire Ambassador. “Our elected officials should be doing everything in their power to keep these devastating drugs off of the streets, and out of the hands of our loved ones. Common sense legislation like this is an absolute necessity to ensure we can reduce the number of fatalities in the United States.”
For more information: info@addictionpolicy.org