Bill Overview
Title: Temporary Emergency Scheduling and Testing of Fentanyl Analogues Act of 2022
Description: This bill (1) extends the temporary scheduling of fentanyl-related substances in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act for two years; (2) requires the Drug Enforcement Administration to submit synthetic compounds of fentanyl-related substances it has encountered thus far to the Food and Drug Administration for scientific and medical evaluations, if they have not yet been evaluated; and (3) provides for the removal and rescheduling of fentanyl-related substances from schedule I if certain criteria are met, as well as notifications about any such scheduling changes to individuals who were or are being prosecuted for offenses related to such substances.
Sponsors: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Target Audience
Population: People involved with fentanyl-related substances
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The scheduling of fentanyl-related substances directly impacts individuals who use these substances, many of whom may be dealing with substance abuse issues.
- Pharmaceutical and medical research professionals interested in fentanyl analogues for potential medical uses will be impacted by this legislation.
- Law enforcement agencies across the globe who deal with the distribution and control of fentanyl-related substances will be impacted by changes to scheduling.
- Healthcare providers treating individuals with opioid dependency might be impacted, especially in terms of adjusting their treatment protocols.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets a subset of the population involved with fentanyl-related substances, including users, healthcare providers, researchers, and law enforcement.
- The policy's temporary nature and focus on synthetic compounds suggest a significant impact on legal and medical frameworks without directly addressing addiction support services.
- Geographical distribution may vary with urban areas more affected by opioid crises.
- Given budget constraints, direct impacts will likely be more pronounced in legal and research sectors initially, with potential downstream effects on healthcare and end-users as the policy and its evaluations evolve.
- The allocated budget suggests limited direct healthcare interventions but more towards regulatory actions, legal processing, and preliminary research.
Simulated Interviews
Substance Use Counselor (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy won't directly help my clients unless it focuses on recovery options, not just regulation.
- The DEA's evaluations could eventually improve treatment options, but it may take years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Nurse Practitioner (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Scheduling might help reduce street availability, but medical support is still lacking.
- Policy could complicate patient treatment if not coordinated with healthcare systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
DEA Agent (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy aligns well with current federal efforts to curb opioid distribution.
- Scientific evaluations are essential for understanding how to handle these substances better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Pharmaceutical Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Temporary scheduling affects research as approvals become bureaucratic.
- Scientific evaluation could streamline future research, if done well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Fentanyl User (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't address my needs directly. I need access to recovery services.
- Rescheduling might reduce illicit supplies, but support systems need improvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Law Enforcement Officer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Helpful in reducing street crime, aligning resources to arrest distributors.
- Focus must also be on rehabilitation to prevent repeat offenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Health Policy Analyst (San Diego, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Temporary scheduling needs a follow-up policy that includes addiction treatment programs.
- Evaluations are crucial for future policy formulation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Public Defender (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could lead to unnecessary prosecutions if transitional measures are unclear.
- Rescheduling might improve legal clarity, benefitting defendants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Emergency Room Doctor (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Scheduling might decrease overdose numbers temporarily.
- Long-term impact requires comprehensive drug treatment strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
University Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act is a step but needs to be part of a larger, more systemic solution.
- The scientific evaluations could be crucial for future public health policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Complexity and administrative coordination between DEA and FDA could impact cost estimates.
- Potential legal challenges during the de-scheduling or reclassification process could delay implementation.
- The scalability of lab and evaluation resources at the FDA will impact efficiency in scientific assessments.
- Wide variance in law enforcement and healthcare systems across states could influence cost and savings realizations.