House passes bill targeting fentanyl-related substances

The U.S. House passed Feb. 6 the HALT Fentanyl Act (HR 27), which aims to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, imposing stricter regulatory and enforcement measures. Notably, the bill does not affect medical-grade fentanyl, which will remain a Schedule II drug. This legislation is part of ongoing efforts to combat the rise in overdose deaths caused by illicit fentanyl. A temporary DEA order that classified these substances as Schedule I in 2018 is set to expire in March. The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.