03/28/2023 | Criminal Defense, Drugs, Pennsylvania Laws, Your Rights and the Law

Major Fentanyl Seizures in Pittsburgh

Two Separate Incidents – 10,000 Doses of Fentanyl Seized in Pittsburgh.

Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry announced two major fentanyl seizures in Pittsburgh, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat the deadly opioid crisis in Pennsylvania.

According to her statement, 962 bricks of fentanyl were seized in Pittsburgh by Bureau of Narcotics Investigation Region V and Drug Control agents.

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is responsible for a significant portion of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania.

The seizure, which occurred in separate incidents, resulted in the confiscation of over 10,000 doses of fentanyl. This is a significant victory in the fight against fentanyl trafficking, as it removes a substantial amount of the illegal drug from the streets and prevents it from causing harm to Pennsylvania communities.

“Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug that is plaguing Pennsylvania communities. Thanks to strong law enforcement collaboration, we’ve prevented this suspect from selling 48,100 more doses of this poison,” Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “My Office is committed to collaborating with our partners to do whatever it takes to get these drug dealers and their poisons out of our communities.”

Fentanyl remains a major public health threat. Many individuals who use opioids are unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl, which can increase the risk of overdose and death. In response to this crisis, the state of Pennsylvania has taken several steps to increase access to harm-reduction tools, such as fentanyl test strips.

In addition, if you are caught with any amount of fentanyl in Pennsylvania, it is an automatic two-year minimum prison sentence and a $5,000 fine (upon conviction).

Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in a substance. These strips are a valuable tool for individuals who use opioids, as they can help prevent accidental overdose by allowing users to test their drugs for fentanyl before using them.

As of November 2, 2022, fentanyl test strips are legal in Pennsylvania. This is an important step forward in the fight against the opioid crisis, as it removes some of the legal barriers that have prevented the widespread distribution of fentanyl test strips in Pennsylvania.

If you were charged with a drug crime, including Fentanyl or opioid possession, our legal team in Pittsburgh, PA can help. Contact our Pittsburgh Drug Lawyers for a free consultation.

People who have substance use disorder can find evidence-based treatment and service options near them by visiting https://findtreatment.gov or by calling the 24/7, national Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

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10/26/2022 | Criminal Defense, Drugs, Pennsylvania Laws

Fentanyl Test Strips Now Legal in Pennsylvania

Every day more people are becoming addicted to Fentanyl and more drug dealers are lacing pills and other drugs with Fentanyl (often without the user’s knowledge). These drugs could include illegal prescription medicine like Oxycontin or other drugs like heroin and cocaine. This has left dealers and drug users wondering if their product is safe or laced with Fentanyl. Test strips give them a quick answer.

In large cities like New York, bars, dance clubs, and restaurants offer Fentanyl testing strips to their patrons.

But several states have outlawed the test strips, seeing them as condoning illegal drugs or as a way to build a criminal case against drug dealers. But other states and jurisdictions see them as a way to save lives.

Pennsylvania now falls into the latter category, making test strips legal, as of November 3, 2022, when Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1393 which legalizes Fentanyl test strips.

The bill amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act of 1972 to no longer define fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia.

It is now legal in Pennsylvania to possess Fentanyl strips. Before this law was signed into law, two of the biggest cities with the biggest drug crime problems had already decriminalized the testing strips: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

On August 2, 2021, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed Executive Order 4-21 that made it the City’s policy to not charge people for possessing or distributing fentanyl strips. On August 31, 2021, then-Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto also signed an executive order decriminalizing Fentanyl test strips.

The Pennsylvania House bill to decriminalize Fentanyl test strips now allows people to test without the risk of being charged with drug paraphernalia.

Fentanyl overdoses are now the top cause of death among U.S. persons aged 18-45 – surpassing suicide, car accidents and COVID, according to an analysis of federal data by Families Against Fentanyl.

If you or someone you knows is in need of Fentanyl test strips in Pittsburgh, you can get them for free from Prevention Point Pittsburgh.

Fentanyl possession is a serious crime that could result in a minimum of two years in prison.

If you have been charged with Fentanyl possession or any other drug charge, please call our Pittsburgh Drug Attorneys today for a free consultation.

Learn more about Drug Laws in Pennsylvania

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08/20/2021 | Criminal Defense, Drugs, Pennsylvania Laws

Any Amount of Illegal Fentanyl Possession Means Going to Prison in PA, Upon Conviction

Pennsylvania Fentanyl Law Punishes ANY AMOUNT of Illegal Fentanyl Possession or Fentanyl Derivative with a Mandatory Two Years in Prison and a $5,000 Fine

Pennsylvania legislators are not fooling around when it comes to punishing those found in illegal possession of any amount of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and used medically for extreme pain. It is also addictive and can easily cause an overdose.

Fentanyl on its own is a Schedule II prescription drug, the same category the Controlled Substance Act has labeled cocaine, Adderall, and oxycodone, meaning that it can both be abused as a recreational drug and used for medical purposes.

But Fentanyl derivatives and compounds are classified as Schedule I drugs and can be more deadly, especially because oftentimes the user has no idea they are injecting it into their body, or that it was mixed into their usual dosage of heroin or cocaine.

The main reason for the crackdown by legislators is due to a very high risk of overdose in users and the growing number of opioid overdose deaths in the state. Sometimes drug dealers add fentanyl to heroin or cocaine to increase the potency, which can lead to overdose.

Under Senate Bill 8, amending Title 18 Section 7508(b) and (d) (Drug trafficking sentencing and penalties), the law states:

(9) A person who is convicted of violating section 13(a) (14), (30) or (37) of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (i) when the aggregate weight of the compound or mixture containing the fentanyl or fentanyl derivative, compound or analogue involved is less than 1.0 gram; two years in prison and a fine of $5,000.

The law goes on to explain that if at the time of sentencing the defendant has been convicted of another drug trafficking offense, they will receive 36 months in prison and a fine of $10,000. If the amount of fentanyl is over 10 grams, the penalties increase from there.

Current Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties have a mandatory sentence if a person is in possession of over 40 grams of fentanyl or over 10 grams of fentanyl analogue. But Pennsylvania has taken the extra step to restrict ANY amount and will punish persons convicted of illegal possession if “the controlled substance or a mixture containing it is fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative, compound or analogue of fentanyl.”

Over 90,000 Americans died in 2020 from drug overdoses. 70% of cocaine overdoses also involved fentanyl.

If you were charged with a drug crime, including Fentanyl or opioid possession, our legal team in Pittsburgh, PA can help. Contact our Pittsburgh Drug Lawyers for a free consultation.

Read more about Pennsylvania Drug Laws: