Senators Markey and Rubio Introduce Resolution Calling for Cooperation to Stop Trafficking of Illicit Fentanyl from Overseas

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). members of the Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution calling for international cooperation to address the trafficking of illicit fentanyl into the United States. Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. It is responsible for the largest increase in drug overdose deaths nationwide in recent years. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a nationwide alert on illicit fentanyl as a threat to public health and safety.

"Illicit fentanyl will lay waste to every single community in America unless we do something to stop this latest opioid scourge," said Senator Markey."We need to make sure that China and Mexico are living up to their promises to combat the flow of this deadly drug and other synthetic opioids into the United States. We must educate the public about the existence of illicit fentanyl and the harm it can do. "And we must develop a national strategy that includes collaboration with our international partners to help stop fentanyl's deadly impact."

"We have a major opioid problem in Florida and throughout our nation, and a big reason for it is the heroin coming from Mexico and fentanyl coming from both Mexico and China," said Senator Rubio. "Approving legislation this week to address opioid addiction was an important step we took to address this health crisis that's taking lives and destroying families, but we must also confront this problem's international roots and ensure that the U.S. government is raising this issue with the involved countries on a high-level and regular basis."

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