Assigned to HHS FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2469
fentanyl; border; public health crisis
Purpose
Declares that fentanyl coming across the Arizona border is a public health crisis and that
the Department of Health Services (DHS) must do everything within its authority to stem this
crisis.
Background
In June 2017, Governor Doug Ducey declared a statewide emergency to address opioid
overdoses and deaths following the release of data that showed a 74 percent increase in opioid
overdoses since 2013. The Declaration was followed by an executive order mandating real-time
reporting of opioid overdoses. In 2018, Governor Ducey called for a Special Session of the
Legislature dedicated to addressing the statewide opioid epidemic and ultimately signed S.B. 1001,
which enacted a series of statutory and session law changes related to the prescribing,
administering, dispensing and use of opioid drugs (Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act and Laws 2018,
1SS, Ch. 1).
Fentanyl is a powerful lab-made opioid that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to treat severe pain. Illegally made and distributed fentanyl, and other illegally
made synthetic opioids, have been increasingly found in the drug supply, contributing to a dramatic
rise in drug overdose deaths in the United States. People both knowingly consume fentanyl and
other synthetic opioids and unknowingly consume them when they are mixed into or sold as other
drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, or counterfeit pills. Because fentanyl is about 50 to 100 times more
potent than morphine, and a lethal dose can be very small, using a drug that has been contaminated
with or replaced by fentanyl can greatly increase one's risk of overdose (National Institute on Drug
Abuse).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Declares that fentanyl coming across the Arizona border is a public health crisis.
2. Requires DHS to do everything within its authority to stem the fentanyl crisis.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 2/13/23 DPA/SE 6-3-0-0
3
rd
Read 3/1/23 31-28-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 10, 2023
MM/JM/slp