Dear Senators Cornyn, Coons, Klobuchar, Cotton, and Cassidy,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S.2569, the “Fentanyl Safe Testing and Overdose Prevention Act.”
Our officers face the effects of the fentanyl epidemic every day and are often the first ones on the scene when responding to a drug overdose. In 2022 nearly 110,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, primarily from synthetic opioids like fentanyl, making them the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18-49. That same year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 59.6 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and more than 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. These seizures totaled more than 395 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
The 2023 fentanyl seizures represent over 332.6 million deadly doses. Fake pills laced with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids are deliberately manufactured and sold to look like Adderall or Xanax which has caused a surge in accidental overdoses. According to the DEA, six out of ten fentanyl laced prescription pills contained a potentially lethal dose of the drug. In this drug epidemic, it is now more critical than ever that we act against the scourge of fentanyl.
Your legislation would amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow citizens to lawfully purchase drug testing kits that detect fentanyl and xylazine. These testing kits can be used to help people test drugs for fentanyl, preventing accidental overdoses from laced drugs. This legislation would help prevent deaths due to fentanyl poisoning by giving people the tools to identify it and prevent accidental overdoses This would improve the detection of fentanyl by our citizens and law enforcement officers and save the lives of hundreds of American citizens by preventing accidental overdoses.
On behalf of the more than 373,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you all for your leadership on this important issue. If I can provide any additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President