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Parents, Police, and Advocates Condemn Senate Passage of HALT Fentanyl Act, Demand Lifesaving Health Solutions to Fentanyl and Overdose

This bill permanently classifies all fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I without testing for medical benefits, blocking research that could lead to new overdose treatments. It also entrenches and expands mandatory minimums, imposing harsh penalties that do not consider individual circumstances, while diverting resources from health solutions for fentanyl to criminalization.

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Prevent Overdose Deaths

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Statement on House Passage of HALT Fentanyl Act, Advocates Urge Senate to Oppose It and Support Lifesaving Health Solutions to Fentanyl and Overdose

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Halt Fentanyl Act. This counterproductive bill would permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, blocking potential health research and creating new mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl-related substances.

2024 Year In Review

Drug Policy Alliance Applauds Biden’s Commutations for Drug War Victims, Urges Elected Officials to Avoid Repeating Same Mistakes

Today, President Biden demonstrated to Americans that justice delayed doesn’t have to mean injustice forever. These 2,500 individuals faced years, in many cases decades, of imprisonment because of the deeply flawed, racist, and draconian drug laws that politicians continue to perpetuate to this day.

Overdose deaths are going down: health, harm reduction approaches play a big role

After many years, overdose deaths are finally going down because of public health solutions. Dr. Sheila Vakharia, DPA’s deputy director of Research and Academic Engagement, has been researching recent drops in overdose deaths. We sat down with her to learn more, including what we and our elected leaders can do to save lives.

Biden’s Commutations and Pardons for Drug War Victims are a Historic Step, But More is Needed, Says DPA

President Biden’s historic actions today acknowledge what Americans have long known: that our country’s practice of doling out lengthy prison sentences to people for drug offenses has put lives at risk, broken families apart, and wasted billions of dollars.

A True Health Approach to the Overdose Crisis Prioritizes Support, not Handcuffs

Overdose deaths are preventable, but criminalization is standing in the way of saving lives. Effective solutions center support, not punishment. Our Executive Director Kassandra Frederique interviews Dr. Kim Sue, addiction medicine physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine.