NM senator cosponsors legislation targeting fentanyl supply chain

A federal bill allowing the Treasury Department to target financial assets of fentanyl chemical suppliers was cosponsored by New Mexico U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich.

Heinrich (D-N.M.) signed onto the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act sponsored by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Tim Scott (D-S.C.), according to a news release from Heinrich’s press office.

The legislation strengthens current law and directs the U.S. Treasury Department to go after, sanction and block off financial assets of international producers.

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Heinrich said fentanyl has become a problem in New Mexico as it has found its way to schools and communities.

“We need to deploy every available tool we can to urgently take on this epidemic. Last week, I led a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to increase access to lifesaving treatment,” he said in the news release.

Heinrich said the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act would cut off fentanyl supplies from China and Mexico.

“So we can target fentanyl before it hits our borders,” he said.

The DEA seized over 50.6 million fentanyl laced, fake prescription pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022, according to a DEA website.

DEA estimated 379 million people potentially died from overdoses of fentanyl in 2022.

Pecos Valley Drug Task Force (PVDTF) Commander Lenin Leos said the number of fentanyl pills seized in Eddy County increased from 91,000 in 2022 to 132,000 through June 20 of this year.

Leos and Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage briefed the Eddy County Board of Commissioners on June 20 on the increased fentanyl seizures in the county.

Leos said most fentanyl seized in Eddy County travels through Juarez, Mexico and El Paso.

Cage said two out of five fentanyl pills in Eddy County could be lethal.

Heinrich said national organizations like the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Sheriff's Association support the legislation, according to the press release.

“Reducing the flow of fentanyl is good, and hopefully this legislation will help with that and save lives,” said Phil Huston, executive director of the LifeHouse sobriety program in Carlsbad.

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“However, as a country we have invested a lot of resources over the last few decades into stopping the supply of drugs with limited impact on substance use and related negative outcomes,” he added.

LifeHouse offers medically assisted detox in Carlsbad, residential treatment and sober living homes in Carlsbad and Artesia.

“This effort must be part of a larger strategy to create a quality behavioral health system that tackles the root cause of our current substance use epidemic if we are to make real progress,” Huston said.

The FEND Off Fentanyl Act awaits further action in the U.S. Senate, according to Congress.gov.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at Smith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: NM senator cosponsors legislation targeting fentanyl supply chain