NC Senate Approves Legislation Confronting Fentanyl, Overdose Epidemic

More than 77% of overdose deaths in North Carolina involved fentanyl

Bill has support from sheriffs, district attorneys, families of those impacted

RALEIGH – On Tuesday, the North Carolina Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 189, “Fentanyl Drug Offenses and Related Changes.” The bill was filed in response to the growing number of tragedies being caused by the overdose epidemic in North Carolina.

There were over 4,000 drug overdose deaths in North Carolina in 2021, the highest number of overdose deaths in a single year. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, more than 77% of those deaths likely involved fentanyl.

“Overdoses and addictions caused by fentanyl are a crisis and it is time to hold those traffickers accountable to the fullest extent of the law for their actions and bringing this poison into our state. This bill is a good first step and empowers law enforcement and district attorneys to protect families, but we need support and additional action from Washington DC to secure our southern border and stop the flow into our communities” said Senator Benton Sawrey (R-Johnston).

Senate Bill 189 covers four areas:

• Significantly increases the fines for trafficking heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil. Fines for trafficking would range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 if convicted; the previous baseline fine was $50,000.

• Expands the current Death by Distribution law by creating new offenses related to deaths caused by the distribution of fentanyl and other controlled substances.

• Modifies the “Good Samaritan Immunity Law” to provide limited criminal immunity to someone who possesses less than one gram of any controlled substance – including fentanyl – if the person is seeking medical assistance for an overdose.

• Creates a new Task Force on Enforcement of Fentanyl and Heroin Drug Violations to study and make recommendations to lawmakers on best practices to combat fentanyl and the overdose epidemic.

Bill sponsors held a press conference for the legislation last week where families who have lost loved ones, sheriffs, and districts attorneys all spoke in favor of the measure. Senate Bill 189 now heads to the N.C. House of Representatives for consideration.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. A “fine” for trafficking or selling an illegal drug? Ummmm what happened to prison? This is all for naught if our weak leader and chief allows fentanyl and other illegal drugs to flow freely across our border. These week measures will not affect addiction much. More for show than anything. Typical of politicians.

    • I agree that fines are not enough. Repeat offenders. Just look at the mugshots every day for a couple months and you will see the FTA charges for offenders who don’t appear for their court trials. And you will start recognizing the faces because there are multiple arrests of the same person within a short span of time. Lawless behaviors are being tolerated. Why? And why call them “offenders”? Too soft. They are CRIMINALS. Committing crimes by breaking the laws set forth by our governing bodies to protect us.

  2. By Far…
    Most Fentanyl comes in by water and air.
    Very little by land at southern border.
    According to Drug Enforcement agency.

  3. So basically this Bill says it’s ok for JoCo to profit from death. Local government profiting from death to control the population is what goes on in Russia. This politician along with his party are a threat to National Security. This is what happens when your education system and your local government does business with Russia.

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