Lawmakers Weigh Harsher Penalties for Opioid Users

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1280;s:4:"file";s:35:"2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-1536x1024.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1024;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Fentanyl_patch_packages-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5660919;s:14:"optimized_size";i:345654;s:7:"percent";d:93.890000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:8984;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8368;s:7:"percent";d:6.8600000000000003;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-336x224.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26296;s:14:"optimized_size";i:24585;s:7:"percent";d:6.5099999999999998;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-771x514.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:92582;s:14:"optimized_size";i:87388;s:7:"percent";d:5.6100000000000003;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3848;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3520;s:7:"percent";d:8.5199999999999996;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:56439;s:14:"optimized_size";i:53143;s:7:"percent";d:5.8399999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:28804;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27067;s:7:"percent";d:6.0300000000000002;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:44095;s:14:"optimized_size";i:41397;s:7:"percent";d:6.1200000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34396;s:14:"optimized_size";i:32262;s:7:"percent";d:6.2000000000000002;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:71:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Fentanyl_patch_packages-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:7489;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6964;s:7:"percent";d:7.0099999999999998;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:5963852;s:14:"optimized_size";i:630348;s:7:"percent";d:89.430000000000007;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Wikipedia Commons
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1617026919 
1518177094

The number of fatal drug overdoses is rising across the U.S. Alabama lawmakers this week considered a bill that would impose stiffer penalties around the deadly opioid fentanyl. Meanwhile, critics say more punishment could strain the state’s overcrowded prisons.

The measure, which the Senate approved last week, came before a House committee this week. The bill would increase penalties for people who use and distribute fentanyl, a powerful opioid that is found in a lot of street drugs. And health officials believe fentanyl is behind the recent spike in overdose deaths across the U.S.

In the last two years, 25 states have passed legislation to increase various fentanyl-related penalties, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.

Sen. Cam Ward, the bill’s sponsor, told the Associated Press an influx of fentanyl in the state has been lethal. “It’s being mixed with heroin and it’s driving up your overdose deaths dramatically,” Ward said. “A very small amount, a grain of salt size, mixed in with heroin is deadly. It will kill you.”

Ward said state penalties for fentanyl possession are low. The bill would stiffen penalties to bring them in line with those for heroin.

A person caught with one-half of a gram to one gram of fentanyl would face a possession with intent to distribute charge, a Class B felony punishable from two to 20 years in prison. Those trafficking larger amounts of fentanyl would face mandatory minimum sentences.

Critics of the bill, including the ACLU of Alabama, say tougher penalties will tax the state’s overcrowded prisons.

 

 

But first, we start this week’s legislative wrap-up with Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal, with a measure that would outlaw video voyeurism. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, targets people who take photos of others surreptitiously.

Also, we get a glimpse of the state’s proposed education budget, and a preview of a bill that aims to make payday lending a bit easier on borrowers.

 

BSC’s Daniel Coleman talks about his years-long effort to save the school and what happens next.

After the news that Birmingham-Southern College is closing, we sat down with the school’s president, Daniel Coleman.

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

More Front Page Coverage