Bill Overview
Title: STOP Act 2.0
Description: This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the implementation of a 2018 law that requires increased shipment-tracking responsibilities and coordination between the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding international shipments of controlled substances (e.g., fentanyl).
Sponsors: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or impacted by the international shipment of controlled substances
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill specifically relates to the accountability and implementation practices of shipping controlled substances such as fentanyl.
- Fentanyl and other controlled substances have a significant impact on public health, particularly regarding substance abuse and overdose rates.
- Public health and regulatory agencies will be directly involved in the evaluation process mandated by the bill.
- The bill focuses on international shipments, indicating a potential global impact, but it is implemented through U.S. agencies, so the primary impact will be within the United States.
Reasoning
- The targeted population for the STOP Act 2.0 involves individuals across various sectors, including those in drug-affected communities, law enforcement, and postal and customs employees. Within this group, there will be differences in how the policy impacts individuals, ranging from direct consequences for those working in related sectors to health-related impacts in communities suffering from high substance abuse rates.
- The $52.5 million budget over 10 years implies a relatively modest program when considering the size of the U.S. This budget will largely target coordination and tracking improvements, directly affecting agencies like the U.S. Postal Service and Customs and Border Protection rather than broader public health interventions that might have a wider direct impact on individuals outside these sectors.
- Estimates of the target population indicate that while 200 million people could be globally connected to the issue due to international trade and law enforcement standards, a more focused group of about 50 million Americans directly interacts with or is affected by international shipments of controlled substances.
- The policy's primary mechanism of effect is regulatory rather than direct health interventions. Therefore, individuals in communities heavily impacted by drug shipments might only experience indirect benefits, like reduced drug availability and crime rates, over long periods.
Simulated Interviews
Customs Officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could make my job more efficient since additional coordination is expected. However, it could also mean more workload without significant additional resources or pay increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Pharmacy Technician (Pittsburgh, PA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy could eventually reduce the availability of illegal drugs like fentanyl in my community, which might make my work safer and improve community health.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Postal Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could make my job more complex as tracking increases, but it's a necessary step to stop illegal shipments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Community Health Worker (Dayton, OH)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step forward in mitigating the drug crisis. However, direct health interventions are urgently needed alongside it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
International Logistics Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There might be an increase in operational costs due to the policy, however, the increased tracking might deter illegal activities.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy limits the amount of drugs coming into our neighborhood, potentially reducing crime.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There are privacy concerns with increased tracking, but if managed well, it could improve safety and efficiency.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Drug Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a piece of the larger puzzle needed to address the international drug trade. It alone won't solve domestic drug issues.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Warehouse Supervisor (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy changes might slow down shipment processes, but could ensure safer and more lawful operations.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy that limits the availability of drugs can help create a safer environment for students.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The commitment to address opioid crises and controlled substance regulations can lead to indirect health and societal benefits.
- Implementation and coordination costs could exceed estimates if significant systemic changes are needed.
- The bill's evaluation findings could pave the way for policy changes impacting future costs and savings, albeit in speculative terms.