DOJ and DEA Simplify Prosecution of Anyone Caught Trafficking A Fentanyl Analogue

According to CBS News, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that federal prosecutors will now be able to charge anyone found trafficking any fentanyl analogues as if they were the true form of the drug. By taking this step, both the DOJ and the DEA are hoping to catch up to clandestine chemists, who have managed to stay one step ahead of the law by changing the chemical structure of fentanyl molecule to create new analogues that have not been deemed illegal.

Fentanyl is a Schedule II drug and is considered to have a high potential for abuse. While it does have legitimate medical uses, the fentanyl that has been killing thousands of U.S. citizens each year is not the same stuff. That fentanyl is made in illegal laboratories and shipped directly into the country or smuggled across borders. It is mixed with other illegal drugs or is used to make counterfeit prescription drugs which are sold on the street. Fentanyl suppresses respiration and is not just a danger to the people who use it. First responders are particularly at risk of being exposed to and overdosing on fentanyl in the course of their duties. If you would like to learn more about fentanyl and how to keep yourself safe, PSM recommends that you review our Fentanyl 101.