On February 23rd, the Idaho Society of Addiction Medicine (IDSAM) sent a letter to Governor Brad Little urging him not to sign H 406 into law. This bill would institute mandatory minimums for the possession of 4 grams or more of fentanyl.

In the letter, IDSAM expressed concern with the underlying approach behind the legislation. Specifically, IDSAM asserted that enhancing criminal penalties for drug possession is not an effective method to deter use or reduce overdoses. Further, IDSAM noted that mandatory minimum penalties are not cost-effective, citing the high costs it requires to incarcerate people in Idaho. Mandatory minimums also fail to account for specific mitigating factors that may impact sentencing decisions. Instead, IDSAM clarified that they favored an approach which invests in meaningful alternatives to incarceration and prioritizes delivering evidence-based treatment in carceral settings. As such, IDSAM urged for H 406 not to be enacted as it would be counterproductive to address drug use and may inhibit treatment opportunities.

Read the letter here.