Designates certain substances as schedule I opiate controlled substances

1 Co-sponsor

• Terrence P. Murphy

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to designating certain substances as schedule I opiates

Purpose

This bill adds new derivates of fentanyl to the controlled substance schedule.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one of the bill adds three new fentanyl derivatives to Schedule I, bringing New York's schedule in line with the temporary Federal Schedule.

Section two is the effective date.

Justification

Fentanyl is a strong pain medication, that when administered in a medical setting, is often combined with anesthesia to prevent surgery related pain. When improperly used, the effects of fentanyl can lead to serious or life threatening respiratory problems.

It has been reported that fentanyl has a similar euphoric effect to morphine and heroin. However, according to the New York Times, fentanyl is 100 times as powerful as morphine and much deadlier than heroine since it requires more naloxone (a drug used to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose).

The prevalence of fentanyl abuse has been on the rise. Due to the fact that fentanyl is cheaper than heroin, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with heroin in order to produce a cheaper product, which far too often results in a lethal combination.

In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration submitted a nationwide alert about fentanyl-laced herion and reported that the number of fentanyl-related cases increased from 942 in 2013, to 3,344 in 2014. The Onondoga County Health Department reported that one-third of heroin overdose deaths involved the presence of fentanyl. By adding additional fentanyl derivatives to the controlled substance schedule, we can deter criminal behavior and help save lives.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 90 days after enactment.