Indy Standard

U.S. Senator Todd Young has expressed approval following the Senate's passage of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. This legislation aims to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, a move intended to equip law enforcement with enhanced tools to address the impact of fentanyl. The bill passed with an 84-16 vote.

"Illegally-created fentanyl derivatives are pouring across the southern border and devastating communities in Indiana and across the country. The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify these deadly drugs as Schedule I substances to ensure their sale and distribution can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Today’s passage puts us one step closer to empowering law enforcement with a critical tool in the fight against opioids," said Senator Young.

Fentanyl is already a scheduled substance, but modifications by Mexican drug cartels create fentanyl-related substances that have similar effects yet remain uncontrolled. In 2023, overdoses, primarily due to fentanyl, were reported as the leading cause of death among young adults aged 18 to 45.

The Drug Enforcement Administration had temporarily classified these substances as Schedule I under its authority, but this order is set to expire on March 31, 2025. The HALT Fentanyl Act seeks not only to maintain this classification but also clarifies that mandatory minimum penalties for trafficking apply equally to both fentanyl and its related substances.

Senator Young was instrumental in introducing this legislation earlier this year and previously in 2023. Other senators involved include Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Chuck Grassley, Martin Heinrich, Roger Marshall, Steve Daines, Eric Schmitt, Maggie Hassan, Shelley Moore Capito, Ruben Gallego, Catherine Cortez Masto, Mike Rounds, and Jeanne Shaheen.