White House Backs Tougher Penalties For Fentanyl As Overdoses Rise

The White House supports legislation to increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking and classify all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs with no accepted medical use.
Drug overdose deaths have reached record highs, driven by fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid.
The bill would permanently add fentanyl-related substances to Schedule I and provide funding for research into those substances.The legislation would also impose harsher penalties for fentanyl trafficking.
The Biden administration says the measures align with the president's agenda to improve public safety and reduce overdose deaths.
Fentanyl has become the most prominent substance involved in overdoses, a trend health officials say has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.