Fentanyl & Other Synthetic Opioids

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) and Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley’s (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) legislation that relates to the classification of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids within the list of uniform controlled substances is headed to Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s desk for signature after passing the House of Representatives and the Senate tonight.
“Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are killing Rhode Islanders at an alarming rate, and we must codify in law how devastating and deadly these new substances are that are flooding into our borders,” said Representative Canario.
“The fentanyl epidemic is getting more serious by the day, and too many people are dying due to fentanyl infecting Rhode Island’s illicit drug supply. This troubling phenomenon is fairly new, and that is why we must amend the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to include fentanyl and other synthetic opioids as the dangerous and deadly substances that they are,” said Senator Crowley.
The bill (2017-H 5738 / 2017-S 0812) includes fentanyl analogs and synthetic opioids into Schedule I and Schedule II of the list of uniform controlled substances. Cosponsors of the legislation are Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), Rep. Raymond H. Johnston, Jr. (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket), Rep. Jeremiah T. O’Grady (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln), Pawtucket, Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence).