Cassidy, Husted Introduce Bill to Protect Americans from Online Fentanyl-Trafficking

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced the No Fentanyl on Social Media Act to direct the Federal Trade Commission, in coordination with the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services, to report to Congress on minors' access to fentanyl through social media, with recommendations to address this growing threat.

"Social media marketing fentanyl is allowing pushers to enter into our households. We need to stop it,"said Dr. Cassidy.

"Illegally sold fentanyl has had devastating impacts in Ohio, and it is heartbreaking each time someone loses their life because of it. The sad truth is bad actors, including drug traffickers, use social media to directly target and influence our children because they know it is a way they can get around parents, teachers, and other trusted adults who work to keep kids safe. Congress must have an active role in ensuring our kids are safe online from predators, and this bill takes a step towards better understanding how we can crack down on drug traffickers who target our children on social media platforms," said Senator Husted.

Background

Fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States.

The report would provide Congress with clear and accurate data on the scope of this crisis, along with a series of policy recommendations to help address it. It would also assess platform design features, drug trafficking tactics, the effectiveness of platform policies, and actions taken by law enforcement, medical experts, and other stakeholders to combat the spread of fentanyl.

As social media platforms continue to grow, teens are both knowingly seeking out fentanyl and unintentionally purchasing drugs laced with fentanyl through social media apps. Despite these platforms serving as a primary marketplace for minors to access fentanyl, there remains a lack of accurate data and a comprehensive federal strategy to track and address this issue.

In July, President Trump signed Cassidy's Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act into law, permanently scheduling fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act.

In December, President Trump signed Cassidy's SUPPORT Act into law, bolstering prevention, treatment, and recovery services for Americans with substance use disorders and mental illness.

Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) in introducing the legislation. U.S. Representatives Gabe Evans (R-CO-08) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced the companion bill to the No Fentanyl on Social Media Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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