Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) has expressed his support for the Senate's approval 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 capabilities to tackle the impact of these drugs. The bill was passed by the Senate with an 84-16 vote.

Senator Young stated, "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."

Fentanyl is already classified as a scheduled substance; however, Mexican drug cartels have been altering its chemical structure slightly to create fentanyl-related substances that remain uncontrolled yet possess similar harmful effects. In 2023, overdoses primarily linked to fentanyl were identified as the leading cause of death among young adults aged 18 to 45.

The Drug Enforcement Administration had previously used its authority to temporarily categorize fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, but this temporary measure is set to expire on March 31, 2025.

The HALT Fentanyl Act ensures that fentanyl-related substances will continue being classified as Schedule I. Furthermore, it specifies that mandatory minimum penalties applicable to fentanyl trafficking will also apply to trafficking involving fentanyl-related substances.

Senator Young played a role in introducing this legislation earlier this year and in 2023 alongside other senators including Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).