U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson has reintroduced the CEASE Overdose Act to permanently classify illicit fentanyl as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act.

“Fentanyl overdose is now one of the leading causes of death for Americans,” Johnson said. “There is no reason why Congress should be required to reauthorize illicit fentanyl’s temporary classification as a Schedule I narcotic multiple times each year.”

Johnson said drug overdose deaths rose by nearly 40 percent from 2020 to 2022 in Louisiana. Most of these deaths were caused by illicit fentanyl.

Johnson said the CEASE bill will permanently classify illicit fentanyl as an illegal deadly substance under federal law.

“Doing so will help our law enforcement agencies get control of this crisis that is hurting so many American families and communities,” he said.

Permanently classifying all illicit fentanyl as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act would streamline and standardize the process for prosecuting those manufacturing and distributing illicit fentanyl, Johnson said.