President Signs HALT Fentanyl Act into Law

President Donald Trump signed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT) Act into law in July 2025, permanently classifying illicit, fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation was led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

The Addiction Policy Forum and over 100 national, state, and local organizations from across the country sent a letter to the U.S. Senate in support of the Halt All Lethal Trafficking (HALT) of Fentanyl Act (S.331). The organizations represent a broad range of sectors, including behavioral health, business, faith communities, law enforcement, and others. 

A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report shows that 105,007 people died of an overdose in 2023. Scheduling fentanyl is vital to address the fentanyl overdose crisis. The legislation ensures that law enforcement and prosecutors maintain the necessary tools to address the opioid crisis, including preventing illegal trafficking, reducing the drug supply, helping prosecutors build stronger cases, and invoking strict punishments for fentanyl-related crimes. 

“The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in America’s fight against fentanyl,” Grassley said. “By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities. I applaud President Trump’s action today, as well as his ongoing commitment to turning the corner on the Biden administration’s disastrous policies and creating a safer America.”  

Click Here to Read Letter

.