Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate floor, focusing on the impact of fentanyl in the United States and advocating for legislative action to combat its spread. Thune highlighted personal stories to illustrate the devastating effects of fentanyl-related overdoses.

Thune recounted the story of Zach Didier, a promising 17-year-old student who died from fentanyl poisoning after purchasing counterfeit pills he believed were Percocet. He also mentioned Courage Minten, an aspiring airline pilot who died at 23 after taking a pill with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Another case involved Ashley Romero, a mother who died from half a pill she thought was a painkiller but contained fentanyl.

The senator emphasized that these stories are part of a larger epidemic affecting thousands across the country. "One in three Americans knows someone who has died of a drug overdose," Thune stated, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis.

Thune called for support for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which aims to make permanent the classification of all fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances. This classification is seen as essential for law enforcement efforts to tackle those responsible for distributing these drugs.

He noted bipartisan support for this measure and expressed hope for its passage. "I was very pleased at the strong bipartisan vote this bill received last Thursday," Thune remarked.

In his speech, Thune also credited former President Trump and Senator Blackburn for their roles in addressing issues related to drug trafficking and social media's involvement in connecting dealers with teenagers.

The senator concluded by expressing gratitude to families affected by fentanyl-related tragedies for sharing their experiences and supporting legislative efforts aimed at curbing this public health crisis.