Senate Advances HALT Fentanyl Act to Combat Synthetic Opioid Crisis

The bipartisan legislation permanently classifies fentanyl analogs as Schedule I drugs and strengthens law enforcement tools against trafficking.

The Senate passed the HALT Fentanyl Act with an 84-16 vote, showcasing rare bipartisan cooperation on addressing the fentanyl epidemic.
The bill permanently designates fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, closing a legal loophole exploited by traffickers altering the drug's chemical composition.
The legislation also facilitates medical research on fentanyl analogs while maintaining Schedule II classification for legal fentanyl used in healthcare.
Critics argue the bill could repeat mistakes of past drug policies, emphasizing incarceration over addressing addiction and systemic issues.
The House must vote on the Senate's version before the bill is sent to President Trump, who has expressed strong support for the measure.