Bill Text: CA ACR68 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 61-17)
Status: (Engrossed) 2023-09-12 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Rubio. [ACR68 Detail]
Download: California-2023-ACR68-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 68
| Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris |
May 01, 2023 |
Relative to National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 68, as introduced, Petrie-Norris.
National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
This measure would designate May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, Drug traffickers mass-produce fake or counterfeit pills in an effort to falsely market them as legitimate prescription pills, resulting in deceptions and threats to the American public; and
WHEREAS, The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has observed a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills containing at least two milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a deadly dose; and
WHEREAS, Six out of 10 pills with fentanyl tested by the DEA contain a potentially lethal dose; and
WHEREAS, The number of counterfeit pills with fentanyl seized by law enforcement agencies has increased by nearly 502 percent since 2019; and
WHEREAS, During 2022, the DEA seized over 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder and over 50,600,000 counterfeit, fentanyl-laced prescription pills; and
WHEREAS, Fake or counterfeit pills have been identified in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, Illicit fentanyl has also been detected in street drugs such as heroin and cocaine; and
WHEREAS, Fake or counterfeit pills are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making them available to teens and youth; and
WHEREAS, Illicit fentanyl is involved in more youth deaths than all other drug-related deaths combined; and
WHEREAS, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the past year, 110,236 people have died due to fentanyl overdose or poisoning; and
WHEREAS, Over the last 20 years, drug-induced deaths among those 15 to 35 years of age, inclusive, have increased sixfold, largely driven by the increase in illicit fentanyl drugs; and
WHEREAS, Between 2019 and 2021, illicit fentanyl involvement in drug overdose and poisoning deaths for persons 14 to 18 years of age, inclusive, more than tripled (an increase of 232 percent), which was twice as fast as the national rate (an increase of 94 percent) and faster than any other five-year age group; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, fentanyl and synthetic opioids were involved in 80 percent of drug-induced deaths of those 14 to 23 years of age, inclusive, compared to 66 percent for all ages; and
WHEREAS, Less than one-half of young Americans (48 percent) and barely one-third of teens (36 percent) are aware that fentanyl is being used to create counterfeit pills; and
WHEREAS, Only 40 percent of young Americans, including only 31 percent of teens, consider themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl; and
WHEREAS, The DEA, CDC, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), United States Department of Education, and others have recognized the unique harms that come to a user from consuming illicit fentanyl without their knowledge, and therefore the importance of increased awareness; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature supports the recognition and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, which includes increasing individual and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people; applauds the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that work to combat the proliferation of counterfeit pills; encourages the use of existing authorities to proactively stop and prevent the spread of illicit counterfeit pills; and designates May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
