TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Saving lives and increasing penalties for drug traffickers: That's the mission of a new federal law.
It's called the HALT Fentanyl Act and was recently signed into law by President Trump. Law enforcement officials and drug addiction counselors say the law is long overdue.
It's all about preventing fatal fentanyl overdoses. Rarely does a day go by when we don't hear about or report on the deadly impact that fentanyl is having in our communities.
"It is a lifeline for families across America. Keeping families safe. All we want is to keep America Safe. Thank you so much," a mother whose son died from a fentanyl overdose told 28/22 News.
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She and other families who lost loved ones to fentanyl watched as President Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law. That's short for Halt All Lethal Trafficking.
It permanently classifies fentanyl related substances as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters says drug dealers, for years, have been playing a deadly cat and mouse with law enforcement. This new law will help end that game.
"We've criminalized as it should be by putting into Schedule I all of the analogs or the fentanyl related drugs where they changed the chemical composition slightly. But at the same time, we've reserved the legitimate use by a physician, let's say post-surgery, as pain medication," Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters explained.
"You know, we're seeing a lot of overdoses. We're seeing a lot of people become addicted to it. It's causing a lot of chaos in people's lives," CEO of Wyoming Valley Drug and Alcohol Services Jason Harlen stated.
Harlen says virtually every day, he has someone seeking help for a fentanyl-related addiction.
"I think it's a step in the right direction from what I've been reading. Harsher penalties for drug dealers, for what I'm understanding, you know that's a good thing. We need to do something about this crisis we're in right now," Harlen continued.
The HALT Fentanyl Act does not prohibit or restrict the use of fentanyl for legitimate medical reasons.
