PIERRE, S.D.    - Attorney General Marty Jackley, as part of a bipartisan group of 52 state and territory Attorneys General, joined in calling on Congress today to help end the opioid epidemic and close a loophole that prevents the trafficking of deadly fentanyl.

“Fentanyl when prescribed and monitored by a doctor and pharmacist can be an effective painkiller,” said Jackley. “Because South Dakota families and communities are experiencing tragic harm and loss of life caused by the misuse of fentanyl, we are asking Congress to give us the needed tools to better protect our citizens.”

The Attorneys General today sent a letter to Congress in support of S. 1553 and H.R. 4922, Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act. Fentanyl is currently a Schedule II controlled substance and when used as prescribed by a doctor, can be a safe painkiller. However outside of careful supervision, fentanyl and analogues manufactured illicitly can be lethal.

The SOFA Act, if passed by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, would eliminate the current loophole which keeps the controlled substance scheduling system one step behind those who manufacture fentanyl analogue and then introduce these powders into the opioid supply. The SOFA Act utilizes catch-all language which will allow the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to proactively schedule all newly-modified fentanyl analogues.

Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act Letter

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