Law Enforcement & Legislators Battle Fentanyl

(Fall 2018) Ten locales ravaged by fentanyl overdose fatalities will now see federal prosecutors levy drug charges against any dealer suspects. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is also sending an extra prosecutor to each of the areas in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, California, New Hampshire and Maine. Sessions pointed out the dangers of synthetic opioids in a recent speech, citing that just three milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal.

At the same time, both state and federal law enforcement professionals are classifying overdose fatalities as homicides. They are confiscating substantial amounts of fentanyl and charging foreign nationals with a variety of crimes as well. In fiscal year 2017, federal prosecutors brought cases against more than 250 individuals, compared to just 74 in the prior year.

 On August 1, Ohio Governor John Kasich approved the state’s Senate Bill 1, a measure that levels more serious charges against drug trafficking and other related crimes when the infraction involves fentanyl or one of its analogs. The legislation could increase prison time for those found guilty of fentanyl-related charges by as much as eight years. The law will be effective 90 days after its signing date.

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