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Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Combat Fentanyl Trafficking on Social Media

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, to address the growing problem of fentanyl trafficking on social media platforms. The bill requires social media companies to alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug-dealing and distribution occurs on their platforms. The legislation is named after Devin Norring of Hastings, MN, and Cooper Davis of Shawnee, KS, who died of fentanyl poisoning after purchasing what they thought were Percocet pills on Snapchat.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act requires social media companies to report illicit drug-dealing and distribution to federal law enforcement.
  • The bill is named after Devin Norring and Cooper Davis, two teenagers who died of fentanyl poisoning after purchasing pills on Snapchat.
  • The National Crime Prevention Council estimates that eight in ten teen and young adult fentanyl overdose deaths are associated with social media contact.
  • Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are now involved in about 70% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota, according to preliminary 2023 data.
  • The bill has been endorsed by various organizations, including the National Association of Counties, the National HIDTA Directors Association, and the Partnership for Safe Medicines.
  • The legislation has bipartisan support, with original co-sponsors including Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), and Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ).
  • Companion legislation has been sponsored in the Senate by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Statistics:

  • Eight in ten teen and young adult fentanyl overdose deaths are associated with social media contact, according to the National Crime Prevention Council.
  • Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are now involved in about 70% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota, according to preliminary 2023 data from the MN Department of Health.

Sources:

  • U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) news release
  • MN Department of Health preliminary 2023 data
  • National Crime Prevention Council estimate
  • Partnership for Safe Medicines endorsement statement
  • Cooper Davis Memorial Foundation statement
  • Devin J. Norring Foundation statement
  • Snap, Inc. statement
  • Alexander Neville Foundation statement
  • American College of Emergency Physicians statement
  • Association of Prosecuting Attorneys statement
  • Community Anti-Drug Coalition statement
  • Houston HIDTA statement
  • Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse statement
  • National Association of Counties statement
  • National HIDTA Directors Association statement
  • National District Attorneys Association statement

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