House Passes Bill to Permanently Classify Fentanyl as a Schedule I Drug
The bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act aims to combat the opioid crisis by targeting fentanyl-related substances with stricter penalties and expanded law enforcement tools.
- The House of Representatives approved the HALT Fentanyl Act in a 312-108 vote, with bipartisan support from 98 Democrats and 214 Republicans.
- The legislation permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, a category for substances with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.
- Supporters argue the bill strengthens law enforcement's ability to prosecute traffickers and close loopholes used to evade restrictions on fentanyl analogues.
- Critics, including some Democrats and public health experts, warn the bill could lead to increased incarceration without significantly reducing overdose deaths.
- Fentanyl remains a leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S., with nearly 75,000 fatalities linked to synthetic opioids in 2023, according to CDC data.
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