Letter to the Hon. Chuck Rosenberg, Acting Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration - Senators Call on the DEA to Provide Information to Support First Responders on the Frontlines in the Fight Against Synthetic Opioids

Letter

Dear Acting Administrator Rosenberg:

We write in response to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) recent release of safety guidelines for the proper handling of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids by local law enforcement officers and first responders. We would like to express our appreciation for DEA's efforts to protect the dedicated professionals on the frontlines in the fight against opioids. We would also like to request further information about these challenges so that we can work together to support first responders as they confront the dangers posed by synthetic opioids in states across the country.

As you know, illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogues are being shipped across our borders and making their way into communities nationwide. We have seen firsthand the devastation caused by the opioid abuse epidemic in our states. In Minnesota, deaths caused by synthetic opioids more than doubled from 2015 to 2016. Ohio has been called "ground zero" for the opioid epidemic. Montgomery County has already seen 364 overdoses in the first five months of this year, compared to 371 overdoses in 2016. In addition, both of our states have experienced an influx of carfentanil-a powerful synthetic drug that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and has already taken a deadly toll. It is for this reason that we have introduced legislation, the STOP Act, to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection crack down on shipments containing fentanyl from overseas, in addition to legislation to require stronger state prescription drug monitoring programs so that we can help to stop addiction before it starts.

These lethal substances also present particular risks for the local law enforcement officers and first responders who are tasked with keeping our communities safe. Incidental exposure to synthetic opioids is difficult to detect and potentially fatal, and we are deeply concerned by recent reports of officers who have suffered accidental overdoses after coming into contact with these substances while at work.

We understand that DEA's new safety guidelines seek to mitigate these threats by providing guidance and resources for the first responders who identify, handle, and risk exposure to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In an effort to better understand and support DEA's efforts, we respectfully request that you provide us with additional information that DEA considered in developing these safety guidelines, including information or statistics regarding the incidence of local law enforcement officers or first responders suffering exposure to fentanyl or any related substances. We also ask for any relevant information concerning the nature of these threats to law enforcement officers and any trends that DEA has detected in these types of incidents. Finally, we ask that you elaborate on any other measures or resources that, in DEA's view, could improve the safety of law enforcement officers when dealing with synthetic opioids.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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