Ohio House Passes Legislation to Combat Fentanyl Crisis in Ohio

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) are pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives yesterday passed legislation to directly combat drug trafficking in Ohio. 

House Bill 88, championed by Abrams and Plummer, comes as a result of the staggering increase in drug overdoses, specifically fentanyl poisoning, in Ohio and throughout the United States. According to the Ohio Department of Health, in 2023, illicit fentanyl or fentanyl analogs were involved in 78% of unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio, often in combination with other drugs.

“Enough is enough,” said Abrams. “Our message is clear: drug trafficking in Ohio will be met with strong consequences.” 

“This legislation will directly combat the drug epidemic in our state,” said Plummer. “We need to hold traffickers accountable for their actions and fight hard to keep our communities safe.”

Key provisions of the bill are as follows:

• Increases penalties for drug trafficking fentanyl-related compounds;
• Increases penalties for repeat drug traffickers;
• Establishes a 5-year mandatory minimum prison term if an individual is convicted of or pleads guilty to a fentanyl-related death;  
• Requires death certificates to list fentanyl poisoning as the cause of death if a lethal amount was found in a person’s body and was determined to contribute to the cause of death;
• Designates August as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month”; and
• Requires public schools to develop age-appropriate curriculum and instruct students on the dangers of fentanyl.
   

“Education is key; the best defense is knowledge,” added Abrams. “We must educate our kids about the current reality of the drug epidemic and the dangers of fentanyl.”

House Bill 88 now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.