Madam Chairwoman and Delegates,
in past legislative sessions, it has often been the position of law enforcement and many Commonwealth Attorneys that the risk of fentanyl exposure should be a reason to oppose this bill. Sadly, due to rampant misinformation, they have been effective at preventing passage of those bills. Below are links to references from the DEA, several emergency medicine and first responder organizations, and research papers showing that the risk of contact with fentanyl is.1.) almost nonexistent; and 2,) highly unlikely to cause any harm in any real life situation if it did happen.
DEA
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/Publications/Final%20STANDARD%20size%20of%20Fentanyl%20Safety%20Recommendations%20for%20First%20Respond....pdf
American Council on Medical Toxicology
https://www.acmt.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PS_241101_ACMT-Statement-on-Fentanyl-Exposure-Laws.pdf
State of MD Opioid Command Center
https://stopoverdose.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/10/OOCC-Fact-Check-%E2%80%93Accidental-Fentanyl-Exposure.pdf
Medical journal articles
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7492952/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395921002061
Thank you.
Thomas A. (“Tom”) Jackson
Co-lead organizer
Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project
Madam Chairwoman and Delegates, in past legislative sessions, it has often been the position of law enforcement and many Commonwealth Attorneys that the risk of fentanyl exposure should be a reason to oppose this bill. Sadly, due to rampant misinformation, they have been effective at preventing passage of those bills. Below are links to references from the DEA, several emergency medicine and first responder organizations, and research papers showing that the risk of contact with fentanyl is.1.) almost nonexistent; and 2,) highly unlikely to cause any harm in any real life situation if it did happen. DEA https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/Publications/Final%20STANDARD%20size%20of%20Fentanyl%20Safety%20Recommendations%20for%20First%20Respond....pdf American Council on Medical Toxicology https://www.acmt.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PS_241101_ACMT-Statement-on-Fentanyl-Exposure-Laws.pdf State of MD Opioid Command Center https://stopoverdose.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/10/OOCC-Fact-Check-%E2%80%93Accidental-Fentanyl-Exposure.pdf Medical journal articles https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7492952/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395921002061 Thank you. Thomas A. (“Tom”) Jackson Co-lead organizer Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project