Bill Introduced to Update Drug Interdiction Guidance and Address Fentanyl Trafficking
Last week, Senators Maggie Hassan (NH), Rick Scott (FL), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act. The bill would require that the Commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) update the agency’s drug interdiction guidance – last updated twenty years ago – once every three years. The bill would also require that the CBP Commissioner develop a report outlining the changes and submit the report to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Homeland Security. In a statement, Senator Hassan said, “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that Customs and Border Protection takes additional steps to help stop fentanyl from entering our country, and I will continue working with my colleagues to combat the substance misuse epidemic.”
Articles & Resources
Senator Hassan – Senator Hassan, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan END FENTANYL Act to Help Border Patrol Stop Drug Smuggling
Companion Bill to Reduce Spread of Counterfeit Pills Introduced
Last week, Representatives Bruce Westerman (AR), Ken Buck (CO), David Joyce (OH), Greg Stanton (AZ), and Lou Correa (CA) introduced the Stop Pills That Kill Act in the House of Representatives. Senators Maggie Hassan (NH), John Cornyn (TX), and Dianne Feinstein (CA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate in May. Like the Senate bill, the House bill would implement penalties for the production and possession of counterfeit pills that contain methamphetamine, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues. The bill would also require the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) develop a plan to address the increase in and spread of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl or methamphetamine, and collaborate closely with the Attorney General and the Office of National Drug Control Policy to issue annual reports to Congress about illicit pill seizures, investigations, prosecutions.
Articles & Resources
What We Read Last Week
AHA – The Power of Opioid Prevention and Treatment Series: Starting your opioid stewardship journey
CBC – Are doctors still prescribing too many opioids?
NIH Director’s Blog – Small Study Suggests Approved Insomnia Drug Can Aid in Opioid Recovery
Northwestern University – Dissolving implantable device relieves pain without drugs
Rheumatology Advisor – Older, Less Affluent Adults More Often Receiving an Opioid Prescription for Pain
This Week’s Calendar
In the week ahead, there are no relevant events or hearings noticed at this time. In the event that there are any changes to the schedule for this week, we will make additional information available.
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