Greenville Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 28, 2023, Representatives Don Davis (NC-01) and John Rutherford (FL-05) introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4988, the Modern Authentication of Pharmaceuticals (MAP) Act of 2023. The legislation seeks to secure the United States pharmaceutical supply chain and close vulnerabilities that allow counterfeit controlled substances, including lethal fentanyl, to enter the marketplace.

“We must take immediate steps to stop the flow of fentanyl and counterfeit drugs coming into eastern North Carolina,” said Representative Davis. “Too many of our kids are overdosing on opioids, and too many of our most vulnerable seniors are consuming counterfeit medications. We can no longer have this state of affairs in the greatest nation on earth. With the MAP Act, we are taking sorely needed steps to stem the flow of illicit substances, both domestically and abroad, by simply requiring on-dose identifiers for controlled substances.”

“As a lifetime member of law enforcement and former sheriff, I have seen firsthand the effects that counterfeit drugs have on our communities. Illicit fentanyl poisonings are now the leading cause of death among adults,” said Representative John Rutherford (FL-05). “I am proud to join Congressman Davis in introducing legislation to create additional security around pharmaceuticals. This commonsense bill will help stop counterfeit drugs while ensuring those who rely on medication can verify its safety and authenticity.”

The U.S. faces a devastating opioid epidemic, partly driven by dangerous counterfeit products that infiltrate consumer markets. In 2022 alone, more than 100,000 people died in the U.S. because of a drug overdose—a staggeringly high death toll that has abated little since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Drug Enforcement Administration also reports that across all fifty states and the District of Columbia, it has seized 50,600,000 fake pills laced with fentanyl as of December 2022, more than the previous three years combined.

This bipartisan legislation will require on-dose identifiers on controlled substances to ensure the authenticity of essential medicines and enhance the security of the U.S. supply chain. Too often, pharmaceuticals from overseas lose traceability, posing an existential risk to both the consumer and manufacturer. The MAP Act takes a critical step toward combating the opioid crisis in the United States. It provides peace of mind to the 70 percent of Americans who rely on thousands of life-saving medications each and every day.

Original source can be found here.