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Dear Friends,
This week, the House voted on a number of bills to combat the opioid epidemic. One of those bills was H.R. 2851, the "Stop the Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues Act of 2017," which creates a new category in the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) for synthetic drugs. This new category would impose criminal penalties for the illegal handling of a covered synthetic substance.
H.R. 2851 includes an amendment I authored that mirrors the "Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances (SALTS) Act,” which I introduced again earlier this month and in previous sessions of Congress. This provision amends the CSA to specify factors to be considered in determining whether a controlled substance was intended for human consumption. Currently, synthetic drug producers, manufacturers, and sellers can easily skirt regulations by simply adding a “not for human consumption” label on their product. Law enforcement and health officials are able to prosecute the sale of similar drugs and substances, but the law does not cover substances with that label. This amendment closes that loophole.
I have held roundtables with local law enforcement, educators, and public health and medical officials to discuss the problem in our region and possible federal action. This amendment was a result of those meetings.
A big part of the problem is that young people and parents are not aware of the serious side effects of these poisons. These drugs invoke dangerous behavior and cause irreparable damage to the health of those who ingest them.
It is important that we continue to inform communities, health care officials, and families of the harm that opioids can cause. This epidemic affects us too close to home. Pain management should not lead to a life-threatening addiction.
Sincerely,
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