United States HRES 359: Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2025, including increasing individual and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people.

Bill Text

IV
119TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. RES. 359
Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in
2025, including increasing individual and public awareness of the impact
of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 29, 2025
Ms. PETTERSEN (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mrs.
MCCLAIN, Mr. NEGUSE, and Mr. MCDOWELL) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
RESOLUTION
Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl
Awareness Day in 2025, including increasing individual
and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit
fentanyl pills on families and young people.
Whereas drug traffickers are mass-producing fake or counter-
feit pills and falsely marketing them as legitimate pre-
scription pills to deceive the people of the United States;
Whereas many fake or counterfeit pills are made to look like
prescription name-brand opioids, stimulants, or anxiety
medications;
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•HRES 359 IH
Whereas drug traffickers are using fake or counterfeit pills
to exploit prescription drug misuse and the opioid crisis;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration (referred to
in this preamble as the ‘‘DEA’’) has observed a dramatic
rise in the number of counterfeit pills containing not less
than 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a
deadly dose;
Whereas 5 out of every 10 pills with fentanyl tested by the
DEA contain a potentially lethal dose;
Whereas counterfeit pills may also contain fentanyl-related
substances and methamphetamine;
Whereas the number of counterfeit pills with fentanyl seized
by law enforcement agencies in 2024 was 60,000,000;
Whereas, including the nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl pow-
der seized in 2024, total fentanyl seizures are equivalent
to more than 377,000,000 lethal doses of fentanyl;
Whereas fake or counterfeit pills have been identified in all
50 States and the District of Columbia;
Whereas illicit fentanyl has also been detected in illicit drugs
such as heroin, cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy and molly), and
methamphetamine;
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in October 2024,
more than 84,000 individuals in the United States died
of drug-induced deaths, and more than 58,000 of those
deaths involved illicit fentanyl and other synthetic
opioids;
Whereas, over the last 20 years, drug-induced deaths among
individuals 15 to 35 years of age have increased 5-fold,
largely driven by the increase in illicit fentanyl drugs;
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•HRES 359 IH
Whereas, for the 12-month period ending in June 2023, illicit
fentanyl was involved in more deaths of individuals 55
years of age and under than any single other cause;
Whereas fake counterfeit pills are easily accessible and often
sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making
them accessible to teens and youth;
Whereas illicit fentanyl is involved in more deaths of youths
than all other drug types combined;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, drug overdose and poi-
soning deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of age in-
creased by 128 percent, a rate of increase which was 77
percentage points higher than the national rate and high-
er than the rate for any other 5-year age group;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, the number of deaths in-
volving illicit fentanyl in drug overdose and poisoning
deaths for individuals 14 to 18 years of age increased by
236 percent, a rate of increase which was 141 percentage
points higher than the national rate and higher than the
rate for any other 5-year age group over the age of 15;
Whereas, since 2021, the annual number of drug overdose
and poisoning deaths and those deaths involving illicit
fentanyl in drug overdose and poisoning deaths for indi-
viduals 14 to 18 years of age has increased;
Whereas, in the 12-month period ending June 2023, illicit
fentanyl was involved in 81 percent of drug-induced
deaths of individuals between 14 and 23 years of age,
compared to 70 percent of drug-induced deaths of indi-
viduals of all ages;
Whereas, in 2024, only 65 percent of youth and 55 percent
of teens in the United States were aware that fentanyl
is being used to create counterfeit pills;
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•HRES 359 IH
Whereas, in 2024, only 55 percent of youth and 50 percent
of teens considered themselves knowledgeable about
fentanyl; and
Wherea