California Democrat seeks $5B to combat fentanyl overdoses, despite previous opposition to penalties.

A California Democrat Demands Billions ⁢to ​Combat Fentanyl Overdoses

A California ‍Democrat, Assembly Public Safety Committee​ Chairman ‌Reggie Jones-Sawyer, ⁤is taking a⁢ bold ‍stance in the fight against fentanyl overdoses. Instead of supporting a Republican effort for stronger penalties,⁤ Jones-Sawyer is demanding at least $5.2 billion to ⁢fund a comprehensive approach ⁣to tackle this⁣ crisis.

The proposed legislation, Assembly Bill 1510, aims to allocate the funds strategically. It ‌includes ⁢approximately $2 billion⁢ for ‍substance ‌abuse treatment, ⁢$400 million for​ harm reduction, and $200 million⁤ for overdose mitigation efforts. Additionally, $2 billion would⁢ be dedicated⁢ to expanding treatment and education programs for California’s youth, while $500 million would target⁤ high-level drug traffickers and provide housing for offenders. Furthermore, $100 million would be⁣ allocated for research on emerging drugs like xylazine.

“We’re⁤ not just ‍poking at the ‍problem,” Jones-Sawyer emphasized. “I want to go ahead ⁢and ⁢knock it out once and for all.”

The⁣ urgency for action is evident, as the report highlights that 83% of the 7,100 opioid overdose deaths in California were attributed to fentanyl. However, Jones-Sawyer faced criticism for his request ⁢for over $5 billion, given his previous opposition to​ expanding the⁣ severity of fentanyl-related crimes.

Despite the⁤ criticism, Jones-Sawyer​ acknowledges his past shortcomings and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach. ​”I ⁣think I did a horrible job at translating and getting not only my Republican colleagues to understand, but some of my moderate colleagues ⁢to understand that there has ‍to be a comprehensive ⁣war ⁤on ‌fighting fentanyl,” he admitted.‌ “And we have to unite ‌both programs, both ideologies.”

Source: The‍ Washington Examiner

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