By Sherri Blevins
One of the State’s and nation’s deadliest enemies is fentanyl. According to the Alabama Department of Mental Health, there were 417 admissions into treatment centers for the abuse of fentanyl in 2021 compared to 150 in 2020, representing a 64% increase. Fentanyl is continuing to increase at an alarming rate throughout the State. In 2021, EPIC reported over 8 kilograms and 1169 dosage units of fentanyl seized in investigations in Alabama. Fentanyl has been encountered as counterfeit pills and mixed with multiple other drugs. The fentanyl-related overdose death rate has continued to increase in Alabama in 2021. According to the Department of Forensic Sciences and the Jefferson County coroner, the total number of fentanyl deaths reported statewide by the Department of Forensic Sciences and the Jefferson County coroner’s was 453 in 2020. It increased to 1,069 in 2021, an increase in deaths of 135.9%.
Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter and Governor Kay Ivey considered it one of the most important issues to address by the 2023 Legislative Session. On Friday, April 7, Governor Ivey signed House Bill 1 into law.
On the previous day, the legislature unanimously passed House Bill 1. Governor Ivey stated that she believed Alabama was setting an example for the nation by passing this bill to combat the fentanyl crisis with total bipartisan support. Ivey said, “ “The entire nation should take note of what we accomplished today in Alabama with the passage of House Bill 1, the bill to help combat the fentanyl crisis. Every member of the Legislature – Republican and Democrat – came together to pass this critical piece of legislation.”
Ivey continued, “Combatting this deadly drug will continue to be a top priority for our Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and I will continue to do everything in my power to stop this drug from being a killer in Alabama.
“I commend Rep. Matt Simpson for his leadership on this issue, as well as all members of the Alabama Legislature for sending this bill to my desk. I look forward to putting my signature on House Bill 1 in the swiftest order.”
The law establishes the following mandatory penalties: Three years in prison for amounts of fentanyl between one gram and two grams. — Ten years in prison for amounts between two grams and four grams. — Twenty-five years in prison for amounts between four grams and eight grams.
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