Anthony Matt
A new bi-partisan bill that would help fight the war on opioids is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature.
The opioid epidemic claimed 172 lives in Minnesota just last year alone.
Patrick Hey knows just how real the pain can be.
“My loss is not one, but one of many,” he said.
His daughter died of an overdose this past January.
“One of the reasons my Micaila took her own life is that she was begging for help, and none was timely provided,” said Hey.
A bill that just cleared the Senate aims to tackle the crisis, and curb access to the deadly drugs.
“This bill is going to help us have the ability to hold the folks that are dealing these analogues, and these synthetic opioids accountable,” said Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken.
The SALT act is part of a large bi-partisan bill introduced by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
“What the bill does is it address the loophole in current law that allows drug dealers to skirt the law by labeling synthetic drugs as “not intended for human consumption,” said Klobuchar, D – Minnesota.
What Klobuchar is describing is much like what happened at the Last Place on Earth in Duluth years ago, where some of their drugs were marketed as a watch cleaner or potpourri. Klobuchar said that was her motivation for the bill.
“This will change that to allow for consideration of factors that help to make clear that despite the label like that, the substance is really intended for human consumption,” she said.
The hope is that it will curb the crisis, especially here, in the Northland.
“We’ve had the number one or number two related death rate in the state for the last 6 years,” said Lt. Jeff Kazel, Commander for the Lake Superior Drugs and Violent Crimes Task Force.
This bill will be another tool that aims to lower that number and confront the problem head-on.
“We must take the tragic loss, and use that pain to help others that are still living,” said Hey.
Other portions of the bill will help stop drugs, like fentanyl from being trafficked across borders.
Another portion of the bill will crack down on health care facilities that try to take advantage of vulnerable patients.