House passes HALT Fentanyl Act with hopes of curbing overdose numbers nationwide
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday changing the drug classification of fentanyl following spikes in overdose deaths nationwide.
Congressman Buddy Carter said an average of 200 people die each day, now making fentanyl overdose the leading cause of death in people ages 18 to 45.
The HALT Fentanyl Act would make the substance a schedule one drug which is the most dangerous classification of drugs, meaning it has no medical use and is highly lethal.
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"It will take all the illicit fentanyl in this country, and it will permanently schedule them so it is illegal to have those drugs, to bring them across the border, or to be in possession of them, certainly to be pushing those drugs, and that's what is killing people. It is a minuscule amount it takes to kill someone," Carter said.
Carter added that it would also help impose harsher penalties for those distributing fentanyl, like longer prison sentencing.
The bill passed through the House with a 289-133 vote. Some who oppose it said these changes are based on a flawed drug scheduling system and locking more people up won't solve the problem.
