Governor Youngkin responding to seizure of nearly $500,000 worth of fentanyl
This comes as five Virginians die every day on average from fentanyl overdoses, and as Governor Youngkin continues to call on the General Assembly to come together to protect Virginians from this poison.
“Virginians suffer when we miss the opportunity to lead. There is no greater reminder of this than the stark fact that on average 5 Virginians die from fentanyl poisoning every single day. And because of weak drug laws, too many drug dealers are not prosecuted,” Youngkin said during his 2024 State of the Commonwealth Address.
“Send me a bill that will raise the penalty to felony homicide when the manufacturer or distributor of illicit drugs or fentanyl causes a death,” Youngkin challenged the General Assembly during his speech.
"We cannot continue to let makers and dealers get away with murder,” Youngkin told Fox News. "This should not be a Democrats versus Republicans issue. The fentanyl crisis affects us all. Holding fentanyl makers and dealers accountable is just common sense."
Youngkin also issued an executive order requiring school districts to notify parents within 24 hours of a student overdose after several student fentanyl overdoses in one school district went unreported for weeks. Now, Youngkin is pushing to codify that executive order into law.
Governor Youngkin will continue working to protect Virginians from fentanyl poison and deter fentanyl trafficking in the Commonwealth.
It’s time for the General Assembly to come together to pass strong legislation to combat the fentanyl crisis that is threatening the health and safety of every community in Virginia.
