Bill Overview
Title: PREVENT Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to make containment devices available to its officers, agents, and other personnel and to provide mandatory annual training on the use of containment devices to prevent potential exposure to synthetic opioids.
Sponsors: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Target Audience
Population: People working in customs and border control agencies worldwide
Estimated Size: 60000
- The bill focuses on preventing exposure to synthetic opioids in customs officers, agents, and personnel.
- The occupational group primarily affected comprises U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.
- Exposure to synthetic opioids is a concern for all personnel handling narcotics, so training and devices will benefit all such workers globally.
- It emphasizes occupational safety, hence impacting employees of customs agencies worldwide, indirectly by influencing best practices.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, with around 60,000 estimated affected employees.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy can cover training and provision of containment devices for these employees.
- The simulated interviews should include a mix of personnel - from those on the front lines like border officers to those in office roles - to explore varied perspectives.
- Not all employees will perceive or experience impacts uniformly; hence, expected impact can range from none to high based on exposure level and nature of job role within CBP.
- Some interviews should reflect individuals who may not perceive any impact, particularly those who already feel secure or minimally exposed due to current practices.
Simulated Interviews
Customs Officer (Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional training will help me feel more secure when inspecting shipments.
- Having containment devices readily available is crucial, given the rise in opioid smuggling attempts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Border Patrol Agent (California)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad there's more emphasis on safety from drug exposure.
- I've seen fellow agents worried about accidental exposure, so this is a relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Administrative Assistant (New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support any policy that ensures the safety of our agents in the field.
- My day-to-day work wouldn't change much, but I know it's beneficial overall.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Arizona)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy reinforces our mission to protect not only the nation but our own people.
- Improved training and equipment are long overdue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Import Specialist (Florida)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I don't handle physical inspections, knowing there's added safety for those who do is reassuring.
- It might slightly affect our working protocols.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Canine Handler (Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The safety of our team and dogs is paramount; this policy helps with that.
- Containment devices could be useful in incidents where substances are found.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Public Affairs Specialist (Washington)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a positive step forward in our PR and community trust.
- It reflects our ongoing commitment to safety.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Director of Field Operations (Texas)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I aim to see these practices enhance our operational integrity.
- Implementation will be challenging but necessary for safety improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Customs and Border Protection Trainer (Illinois)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training we provide will greatly benefit from this policy's additional resources.
- Safety standards will drastically improve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Field Technician (New Mexico)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While my role isn't at the forefront, knowing our frontline personnel are safer is reassuring.
- I hope this translates to more advanced tech rollout as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $9500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $11500000)
Year 3: $9500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $11500000)
Year 5: $9500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $11500000)
Year 10: $9000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $11000000)
Year 100: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The training and device costs are recurring but may vary due to changes in the price of equipment and training module updates.
- This bill enhances occupational safety, potentially reducing health-related costs from opioid exposure incidents but not directly quantified.