[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 359 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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 Commerce, and in addition
to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 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 counterfeit pills and
falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription 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;
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 powder 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;
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 poisoning deaths for
individuals 14 to 18 years of age increased by 128 percent, a rate of
increase which was 77 percentage points higher than the national rate
and higher than the rate for any other 5-year age group;
Whereas, between 2019 and 2021, the number of deaths involving 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 individuals 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
individuals 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;
Whereas, in 2024, only 55 percent of youth and 50 percent of teens considered
themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl; and
Whereas, in 2024, there were 51,010 reported overdose deaths involving illicit
fentanyl and other synthetic opioids: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the recognition and goals of National Fentanyl
Awareness Day, which include increasing individual and public
awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills
on families and young people;
(2) applauds the work of Federal, State, and local law
enforcement agencies that work to combat the proliferation of
counterfeit pills;
(3) encourages the use of existing authorities to
proactively stop and prevent the spread of illicit counterfeit
pills; and
(4) supports the designation of ``National Fentanyl
Awareness Day''.
<all>