Republican Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter introduced legislation Tuesday that would classify Americans who died of fentanyl poisoning as crime victims.
The Daily Caller first obtained the legislation, which is titled the Recognizing Victims of Illicit Fentanyl Poisoning Act. The bill would add individuals who have died because of illicit fentanyl poisoning to the list of recognized victims maintained by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The OVC administers the Crime Victims Fund, which supports programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crimes and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives.
“Victims of illicit fentanyl poisoning are exactly that – victims. Criminals are disguising this poison as other, less lethal drugs to make a quick buck. It’s time to give surviving families the support they need and fully investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this horrific crime,” Carter told the Caller before introducing the bill.
READ THE LEGISLATION:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
“Drug poisonings are not a victimless crime. As of this month, the DEA has determined that 6 out of every 10 pills not purchased legitimately from a pharmacy are laced with fentanyl,” said Kristy Dyroff, one of Carter’s constituents, in a statement to the Caller. “There has been a minimum of 108,000 deaths attributed to fentanyl poisoning in 2022 alone. Everyone has been touched by this epidemic in the U.S. They’ve lost a loved one, neighbor, friend, or co-worker to fentanyl.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Republicans Release Pre-Halloween PSA Warning Parents About Rainbow Fentanyl)
“My son was sold a drug online that was later discovered to be fentanyl. It killed him instantly,” Dryoff continued. “His death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner. The dealer plead guilty to trafficking resulting in death and is now serving 20 years in federal prison. This drug is murdering 300 people each day in the U.S. The Office for Victims of Crime has a responsibility to stop stigmatizing our families and recognize us all as victims deserving of respect and advocacy services.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: McCarthy Says Ukraine Won’t Distract Congress From America’s Problems)
Nearly 110,000 Americans died from overdoses in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highest number ever recorded.