October 24, 2023 - WASHINGTON – On Monday, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) demanded action from the director of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the rise of deadly fentanyl-laced pills being sold to children through social media. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths among kids and teens have skyrocketed over the past few years. Kids think they are buying prescription pills like Percocet, Adderall, and Xanax, but the pills they get are almost always counterfeit. Based on counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills seized by the DEA last year, around 6 in 10 pills contain potentially deadly doses of fentanyl. Law enforcement officials say that most of these pills are being sold through social media.

“The rise in fentanyl-related overdoses is ruining lives and destroying families, and now drug dealers are using tactics to target our kids. Putting children’s lives at risk like this is nothing short of evil,” said Rep. Harder. “On top of that, these drugs are often laced with deadly doses of fentanyl. The fact that a drug dealer can target our kids through social media while they’re in the safety of our own homes is every parent’s worst nightmare. This needs to stop.”

This continues Rep. Harder’s work to protect San Joaquin families and first responders from the threat of fentanyl, xylazine, and other deadly illicit drugs.

Read Rep. Harder’s letter to the DEA Administrator HERE or below:

October 23, 2023

Dear Administrator Milgram,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the alarming reports of fentanyl-laced pills being sold to minors through social media platforms. These stories are not only deeply troubling but also pose a significant threat to the health and safety of our children. Illicit drugs being sold to kids through social media platforms has the potential to exacerbate the ongoing opioid crisis and inflict irreparable harm on the future of our country. 

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting over 36,000 deaths in the United States in the last year alone due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, it is imperative that we protect our children so this number does not grow. 

I urge the DEA to expand specialized cyber investigations efforts to monitor, disrupt, and shut down all online networks that are facilitating the sale of fentanyl and its analogs. Additionally, the DEA should work with every social media platform to develop stringent policies and technologies that can swiftly identify and remove any illicit drug-related content that can serve as a powerful deterrent. 

We must act as quickly as possible to stop online fentanyl sales to our children. Our children are our future, and keeping them safe should be our top priority. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,

Josh Harder

Member of Congress
Source: Congressman Josh Harder