Protecting Americans from Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023

Protecting Americans from Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023

This bill permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.

The temporary scheduling order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration to place fentanyl-related substances into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act expires on December 31, 2024.

Bill 118 HR 4701, also known as the Protecting Americans from Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of combating the trafficking of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been responsible for a significant number of overdose deaths in the United States.

The bill seeks to address the issue of fentanyl trafficking by increasing penalties for individuals caught trafficking the drug, as well as providing additional resources to law enforcement agencies to help them better detect and prevent the trafficking of fentanyl. Additionally, the bill includes provisions aimed at increasing awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and providing support for individuals struggling with addiction to the drug.

One of the key components of the bill is the establishment of a Fentanyl Task Force, which will be responsible for coordinating efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking across various federal agencies. The task force will work to improve information sharing between agencies, enhance enforcement efforts, and develop strategies to disrupt the supply chain of fentanyl. Overall, the Protecting Americans from Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023 represents a bipartisan effort to address the growing crisis of fentanyl trafficking in the United States. By increasing penalties for traffickers, providing resources to law enforcement agencies, and raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, the bill aims to reduce the availability of this deadly drug and save lives.