ASAM: HALT Fentanyl Act Makes Fentanyl-Related Substances Schedule I. Again.

Rockville, MD (March 14, 2025) – Following the U.S. Senate's passage of The HALT Fentanyl Act, Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), issued the following statement:  

“ASAM is disappointed to see The HALT Fentanyl Act pass without including vital amendments to effectively address the demand side of the addiction and overdose crisis.

The bill will permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, but they have been temporarily classified as Schedule I since 2018. Despite this classification, overdose deaths soared to record highs in the following years. This sends a clear message: carefully tailored supply side interventions can play a useful role in addressing an overdose crisis, but increased and sustained efforts on the demand side present an opportunity for greater progress.

To effectively combat the overdose epidemic and adequately treat addiction, ASAM continues to urge Congress to remove red tape that limits patient access to methadone for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and to close the dangerous Medicare coverage gap for residential addiction treatment, among other reforms. While ASAM is not supportive of The HALT Fentanyl Act as it is written, we recognize that optimal is not always achievable. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to advance lifesaving, demand-side interventions.”

On February 3, 2025, ASAM issued a letter to leadership of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Subcommittee on Health outlining concerns around The HALT Fentanyl Act. Read the full letter here.

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About the American Society of Addiction Medicine  

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 8,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.org. 

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