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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 692 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 692

Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 
   2024, including increasing individual and public awareness of the 
  impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young 
                                people.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 2024

 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Butler, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
 Rubio, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Daines, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. 
 Moran, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Brown, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Sinema, Mr. 
Casey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Risch, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, 
 Mr. Padilla, Mr. Kelly, Mr. King, Mr. Coons, Mr. Young, Mr. Merkley, 
   Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Hassan, Mr. 
   Menendez, Mr. Warnock, Mrs. Britt, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
   Manchin, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Graham, and Ms. Cantwell) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 
   2024, including increasing individual and public awareness of the 
  impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young 
                                people.

Whereas drug traffickers are mass-producing fake or counterfeit pills and 
        falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the 
        people of the United States;
Whereas many fake or counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription name-
        brand opioids, stimulants, or anxiety medications;
Whereas drug traffickers are using fake or counterfeit pills to exploit 
        prescription drug misuse and the opioid crisis;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``DEA'') has observed a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills 
        containing not less than 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a 
        deadly dose;
Whereas 7 out of every 10 pills with fentanyl tested by the DEA contain a 
        potentially lethal dose;
Whereas counterfeit pills may also contain fentanyl-related substances and 
        methamphetamine;
Whereas the number of counterfeit pills with fentanyl seized by law enforcement 
        agencies in 2023 was 79,500,000, up from 58,000,000 pills the year 
        prior;
Whereas, including the nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder seized in 2023, 
        total fentanyl seizures are equivalent to more than 376,700,000 lethal 
        doses of fentanyl;
Whereas fake or counterfeit pills have been identified in all 50 States and the 
        District of Columbia;
Whereas illicit fentanyl has also been detected in illicit drugs such as heroin, 
        cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy and molly), and methamphetamine;
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in November 2023, more than 109,000 
        individuals in the United States died of drug-induced deaths, and more 
        than 76,000 of those deaths involved illicit fentanyl and other 
        synthetic opioids;
Whereas, over the last 20 years, drug-induced deaths among individuals 15 to 35 
        years of age have increased 5-fold, largely driven by the increase in 
        illicit fentanyl drugs;
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in June 2023, illicit fentanyl was 
        involved in more deaths of individuals 55 years of age and under than 
        any single other cause;
Whereas fake counterfeit pills are easily accessible and often sold on social 
        media and e-commerce platforms, making them accessible to teens and 
        youth;
Whereas illicit fentanyl is involved in more deaths of youths than all other 
        drug types combined;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, drug overdose and poisoning deaths for 
        individuals 14 to 18 years of age increased by 128 percent, a rate of 
        increase which was 77 percentage points higher than the national rate 
        and higher than the rate for any other 5-year age group;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, the number of deaths involving illicit fentanyl 
        in drug overdose and poisoning deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of 
        age increased by 236 percent, a rate of increase which was 141 
        percentage points higher than the national rate and higher than the rate 
        for any other 5-year age group over the age of 15;
Whereas, since 2021, the annual number of drug overdose and poisoning deaths and 
        those deaths involving illicit fentanyl in drug overdose and poisoning 
        deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of age has increased;
Whereas, in the 12-month period ending June 2023, illicit fentanyl was involved 
        in 81 percent of drug-induced deaths of individuals between 14 and 23 
        years of age, compared to 70 percent of drug-induced deaths of 
        individuals of all ages;
Whereas, at the end of 2022, only 48 percent of youth and 36 percent of teens in 
        the United States were aware that fentanyl is being used to create 
        counterfeit pills;
Whereas, at the end of 2022, only 40 percent of youth and 31 percent of teens 
        considered themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl; and
Whereas, in 2022, there were 73,838 reported overdose deaths involving illicit 
        fentanyl and other synthetic opioids: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the recognition and goals of National Fentanyl 
        Awareness Day, which include increasing individual and public 
        awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills 
        on families and young people;
            (2) applauds the work of Federal, State, and local law 
        enforcement agencies that work to combat the proliferation of 
        counterfeit pills;
            (3) encourages the use of existing authorities to 
        proactively stop and prevent the spread of illicit counterfeit 
        pills; and
            (4) designates May 7, 2024, as ``National Fentanyl 
        Awareness Day''.
                                 <all>
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