The resolution urges the United States Congress to enact the HALT Fentanyl Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of drug overdose deaths, particularly those related to illegal fentanyl. In 2023, approximately 107,000 drug overdose deaths were reported in the U.S., with nearly 70 percent attributed to opioids like illegal fentanyl. While there has been a recent decline in overdose deaths, they remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44. The resolution highlights the dangers of illegally made fentanyl, which is often mixed with other drugs and poses a significant risk to users, as evidenced by laboratory tests showing that many illegal pills contain lethal doses of fentanyl.

The HALT Fentanyl Act, introduced as U.S. Senate Bill 331, seeks to classify illegal fentanyl and related substances as Schedule I under the federal Controlled Substances Act. This classification would impose stricter regulatory controls and criminal penalties on these substances, which are recognized for their high potential for abuse and lack of accepted medical use. The resolution emphasizes that New Jersey has already classified illicit fentanyls as Schedule I substances, and it argues that federal classification will bolster efforts to combat the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of these dangerous drugs nationwide.