U.S. Attorney Trutanich's Statement On The Expiration of Fentanyl Scheduling

U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich issued the following statement:

"Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 40 to 60 times more potent than heroin. A small amount can cause a fatal overdose. The scheduling of fentanyl (and fentanyl-related substances) has assisted U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide with prosecuting drug traffickers who poison our streets and neighborhoods. Traffickers line their pockets at the expense of our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and neighbors. In Nevada, for example, a drug trafficker was brought to justice after she sold a prescription pill laced with fentanyl to an individual who died from an overdose.

"The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stem the opioid crisis. Law enforcement needs all the resources and tools available to combat this deadly drug epidemic. But without appropriate legislation before the DEA’s temporary scheduling of fentanyl analogues expires on February 6, 2020, prosecutors and law enforcement would lack a critical legal tool to attack the opioid crisis. The proposed Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues legislation can help save thousands of American lives."