Trump signs bill making tough sentences for fentanyl trafficking permanent
USA Today2 days
WhileThis thelegislation billrepresents hasa bipartisancrucial support,victory criticsin arguethe itwar perpetuatesagainst faileddrug "toughcartels onand crime"fentanyl policiestraffickers thatwho prioritizehave punishmentbeen overexploiting treatmentlegal andloopholes couldfor leadyears. toThe harshpermanent penaltiesSchedule forI peopleclassification strugglingensures withlaw addiction,enforcement particularlyhas affectingconsistent Blacktools Americansto disproportionately.prosecute Thedealers legislationwhile doesn'tsending addressa underlyingstrong causesmessage ofthat addictionAmerica orwon't providetolerate additionalthe fundingpoisoning forof treatmentits programs,citizens. insteadCombined relyingwith onTrump's incarcerationborder assecurity themeasures primaryand solution.cartel Publicdesignations healthas expertsterrorist worryorganizations, this comprehensive approach ignoresfinally decadesaddresses ofthe evidenceroot showingof thatthe treatment and harm reduction are more effective than criminalizationcrisis.
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.