Bill Overview
Title: END FENTANYL Act
Description: This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review and update, as necessary, manuals and policies related to inspections at ports of entry to ensure the uniformity of inspection practices to effectively detect illegal activity along the border, such as the smuggling of drugs and humans.
Sponsors: Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by fentanyl trafficking and consumption
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill aims to combat drug smuggling, particularly fentanyl, which has significant global health implications due to its potency and the number of overdoses it causes each year.
- Fentanyl is a major contributor to the opioid crisis, which is a global issue affecting millions of people through addiction, health problems, and fatalities.
- The illegal smuggling of drugs like fentanyl affects not just the country it is smuggled into but also those countries it passes through, impacting global supply chains and increasing drug availability worldwide.
- Families and communities affected by drug addiction and overdoses, which include millions of people globally, are direct and indirect beneficiaries if smuggling is successfully reduced.
Reasoning
- The population selected includes individuals who are directly and indirectly impacted by drug trafficking, particularly of fentanyl. This encompasses drug users, family members of addicts, healthcare workers, community leaders, and law enforcement officers.
- The budget is relatively limited given the scale of the problem, which means the target demographic must be significantly aware of or impacted by drug-related issues to perceive a measurable change in wellbeing.
- The selected participants vary in their impact level from high (drug users and their families) to low or none (general public and law enforcement in non-crisis areas).
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York City, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could lessen the influx of drug overdose cases we see daily.
- More resources should be allocated to treatment as well as prevention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Customs Officer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy may improve operation efficiency slightly.
- Increased checks might slow down trade processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Recovered Drug Addict (Columbus, OH)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could save many lives if it's effective.
- Immediate results may take time, but worth the effort.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Community Leader (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy addresses root smuggling issues.
- Community support systems are also crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Mother with affected children (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopeful that less smuggling will prevent more tragedies.
- Policy needs broader support for families affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
College Student (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy tackling smuggling is a good start.
- Focus should also be on college and youth outreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Law Enforcement (Rural Maine)
Age: 52 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any help in stopping smuggling is good, but our infrastructure is limited.
- Policy might not directly help rural areas enough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 57 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy might create business delays.
- Overall reduction in drug trade is positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fewer drugs can lead to better student health and safety.
- Greater impact needed within the education system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Pharmacist (Miami, FL)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preventing illegal drugs aids community health.
- Legal and controlled substances need attention too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- Initial high costs aimed at manual updates and policy changes at ports of entry.
- Efficiencies gained through uniformity in CBP inspection processes could potentially reduce drug smuggling.
- Reduction in law enforcement and healthcare burdens arising from decreased fentanyl usage.