While the bill has bipartisan support, critics argue it perpetuates failed "tough on crime" policies that prioritize punishment over treatment and could lead to harsh penalties for people struggling with addiction, particularly affecting Black Americans disproportionately. The legislation doesn't address underlying causes of addiction or provide additional funding for treatment programs, instead relying on incarceration as the primary solution. Public health experts worry this approach ignores decades of evidence showing that treatment and harm reduction are more effective than criminalization.