This past week, Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson joined fellow lawmakers at a press conference to announce the roll-out of the “Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023″ led by Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) — a critical step in addressing the nationwide fentanyl crisis.
Congressman Jackson empathized, ” Fentanyl is a national problem, and we are providing a national solution. Families are being robbed; children are being killed by the importation of these deadly drugs. Now, we are demanding that the federal government use all its resources to fight back. Our mission is to save the lives of Americans, especially our children. We cannot, and will not, stand idle as this crisis continues to unfold.”
Fentanyl-related deaths are increasing at an alarming rate across the United States, claiming nearly 200 lives daily. As reported by the CDC, fentanyl-related deaths exceeded 70,000 nationwide last year, tragically including approximately 1,500 individuals under the age of 20.
The “Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023” is a crucial response to this surge in overdoses and deaths. This comprehensive legislation:
- Provides training and resources to schools and teachers, enabling them to administer life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs or devices.
- Halts the online sale of pills that target and fuel addiction among our youth.
- Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a national strategy for public education about fentanyl and its synthetic and laced derivatives.
- Provides grants to states for the development and implementation of treatment programs for individuals addicted to these substances.
- Increases resources available to law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of these substances, and establishes an interagency task force to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts.
- Directs the HHS to conduct research to better understand the effects of these substances, to develop new treatments for addiction, and to determine best practices for prevention.
- Enhances penalties for offenses involving the distribution or manufacture of adulterated or misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud or mislead, as well as the promotion or sale of such drugs online.
Importantly, this legislation also acknowledges the medical uses of non-illicit fentanyl and rejects the counterproductive approach of mass criminalization of drug usage.
In conclusion, Congressman Jackson stressed, “I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in co-sponsoring the ‘Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023.’ Our collective effort is a testament to our determination to confront this crisis head-on and work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all Americans.”
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