Alabama has enacted a new law that imposes manslaughter charges on individuals who sell fentanyl with the knowledge that its use can result in death. As per the law, those who sell the drug and cause someone’s death are held accountable for their actions.
House Bill 10 was crafted by state representative Chris Pringle (R-District 101) after he personally knew people who had overdosed from this drug. The bill is being sponsored by him.
In his statement, Pringle emphasized the severity of drug dealers, describing them as “vicious, nasty people.” His proposed bill aims to hold non-medical professionals accountable for selling controlled substances that result in fatalities. Under the bill, those who are not doctors or pharmacists and are not authorized to sell controlled substances can be charged with manslaughter if their actions lead to someone’s death.
Every single day, opioids claim the lives of over 136 individuals in America, as per statistics provided by the National Center for Drug Abuse.
A mother who lost her son to a heroin overdose believes that the proposed bill falls short of addressing the issue effectively.
Angie Cheshire expressed her concern that law enforcement might use the lack of fentanyl as an excuse not to investigate. She said, “I’m just worried now that they’re going to be, that law enforcement is going to be able to say, “well, we can’t investigate. there’s not fentanyl.””
According to Lori Myles, the public affairs director for the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the passing of this bill marks a significant stride for the state. Myles, who tragically lost her son to a fentanyl overdose in 2022, understands the devastating impact of opioid addiction firsthand.
Myles emphasized that drug dealers who mix fentanyl with other substances are fully aware of the risks they are exposing their clients to. Therefore, they should be held responsible for the hazardous outcome of their actions.
According to Myles, discussing these topics may be difficult, but they are necessary conversations to have.
According to Virginia Guy, the Executive Director of the Drug Education Council, the new law is likely to catch the drug dealers’ attention.
Guy stated that the new law will hold drug dealers accountable for selling fentanyl. This will serve as a warning to those who profit from selling this deadly substance that they will be charged to the fullest extent of the law. Instead of weapons, they are using fentanyl to harm others, and this law aims to put an end to their actions.
Conviction of manslaughter results in a severe penalty as it is categorized as a class B felony, and the offender can face imprisonment of up to 20 years.
Raising awareness about the increasing number of deaths caused by fentanyl is crucial, according to Myles, Guy, and Pringle.
Pringle and Guy are aiming to introduce a bill that would mandate all individuals who have suffered from an overdose or been incarcerated for drug-related offenses to undergo a saliva test to detect the presence of fentanyl in their system. Their objective is to prevent further fatalities resulting from the consumption of this lethal drug.
