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Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Combat Fentanyl Trafficking on Social Media

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. Representatives Angie Craig and Mariannette Miller-Meeks have introduced bipartisan legislation to curb the sale of illicit drugs on social media platforms and hold social media companies accountable for drug trafficking. The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is named after two teenagers who died of fentanyl poisoning after purchasing what they thought were Percocet pills on Snapchat. The bill requires social media companies and other communication service providers to alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug-dealing and distribution occurs on their platforms.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act aims to stop drug trafficking on social media platforms and help law enforcement counter the sale of illicit drugs online.
  • The bill requires social media companies and other communication service providers 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.
  • 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 involved in about 70% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota, according to preliminary 2023 data from the MN Department of Health.
  • The bill has been endorsed by several organizations, including the Alexander Neville Foundation, the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, and the National Association of Counties.
  • The legislation has bipartisan support, with Representatives Kim Schrier, Dan Crenshaw, Don Davis, Addison McDowell, Thomas Suozzi, Derek Schmidt, and Jefferson Van Drew as original co-sponsors.
  • Companion legislation has been sponsored in the Senate by Senators Roger Marshall, Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Grassley, Dick Durbin, Amy Klobuchar, and Todd Young.

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 involved in about 70% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota, according to preliminary 2023 data from the MN Department of Health.
  • The bill requires social media companies and other communication service providers to alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug-dealing and distribution occurs on their platforms.

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives
  • The Alexander Neville Foundation
  • The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies
  • The American College of Emergency Physicians
  • Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
  • The Community Anti-Drug Coalition
  • The Cooper Davis Memorial Foundation
  • The Devin J. Norring Foundation
  • Houston HIDTA
  • Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse
  • The National Association of Counties
  • The National District Attorneys Association
  • The National HIDTA Directors Association
  • The Partnership for Safe Medicines
  • Snap, Inc.

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