Friend, last week the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the HALT Fentanyl Act which will get a final vote in the Senate very soon. We can’t arrest our way out of the overdose crisis. But Congress is trying by rushing to pass this misguided bill. If it passes the Senate, it advances to President Trump who will sign it into law. That means this is our last chance to stop it, so please urge your Senators to oppose the bill right now.
Don’t let the name fool you. All this counterproductive bill will do is double down on the failed drug war and halt the health approaches to fentanyl that our communities need to stay alive.
It would block potential research that could uncover new overdose medications by permanently scheduling all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I without first testing them for benefits or harm. Of the few fentanyl-related substances the federal government has tested, at least one showed properties similar to the overdose-reversing medication naloxone.
It would also entrench and expand mandatory minimum sentences and harsh criminal penalties for fentanyl-related substances. History shows us this will only do more harm by separating families, allowing for unjust sentences that do not consider individual circumstances, and diverting resources away from health interventions that are proven to save lives.
Thousands of supporters like you have urged Congress to oppose this harmful bill. Now we need your voice again in this final push: demand that your Senators vote NO and prioritize health over handcuffs.
Constituent calls are needed now more than ever, and it’ll only take a few minutes of your time so call your Senators’ offices at (202) 224-3121 and say: I’m calling to urge my Senator to vote NO on the HALT Fentanyl Act (S. 331). Reducing the harms of fentanyl and overdose is so important, but we can’t arrest our way out of this crisis. Harsher penalties for fentanyl-related substances are counterproductive and will only result in even more potent substances entering the drug supply, increasing risk of harms like overdose. We are all concerned about fentanyl. But we must invest in health solutions to save lives instead of doubling down on arrest and incarceration that have failed to keep us safer. Please oppose the HALT Fentanyl Act and support a health approach instead of handcuffs. Thank you.
We need solutions to overdose and fentanyl, that’s why we must prioritize health approaches. Increasing criminalization is what brought fentanyl to the U.S. Despite over 50 years of policies that prioritize punishment over health interventions, drugs are more available, cheaper, and potent than ever. Cracking down on the drug supply often leads to more dangerous drugs. After prescription opioid crackdowns, people dependent on opioids turned to the streets to find substitutes. The illegal drug market responded by mixing fentanyl with heroin and counterfeit pills to meet the overwhelming demand. Now, pure fentanyl is the norm, and new drugs like xylazine and nitazenes are emerging.
When the Trump administration first criminalized all fentanyl-related substances in 2018, overdose deaths rose 60% in four years—from 67,367 deaths in 2018 to 107,941 in 2022. Instead of learning from this, the Trump administration is doubling down and trying to make this policy permanent through the HALT Fentanyl Act.
Recent data show that overdose deaths are finally starting to decrease. And that’s largely thanks to the health and harm reduction solutions we’ve fought for. This includes the overdose/fentanyl reversal drug naloxone, fentanyl test strips—which can detect fentanyl in drugs—and medications for opioid use disorder that help people stay alive and have a shot at recovery by reducing cravings. We must invest more in these health approaches that are saving lives, but the HALT Fentanyl Act is a step in the opposite direction. We have one last chance to block it so please take action now.
