Senate Passes Grassley, Feinstein Bill To Combat Rising Methamphetamine Abuse

Statement

The Senate last night passed the Methamphetamine Response Act of 2021, legislation introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). The bill designates methamphetamine as an emerging drug threat and directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to implement a plan to address the rising use of methamphetamine.

"For years, meth has taken lives and destroyed families across America, particularly in the Midwest. Though this drug is not new, drug traffickers are finding new and harmful ways to increase meth's potency and distribution, spiking overdose rates. By declaring meth an emerging drug threat, our bill helps law enforcement better respond to the challenges presented by drug traffickers' evolving tactics, and urges our federal partners to continue to prioritize a response and strategy to address the meth crisis. I'm grateful for the Senate's action to advance this important bipartisan bill, and the House should pass it without delay," Grassley said.

"I thank my Senate colleagues on the passage of this important legislation to address the rising problem of methamphetamine abuse. A recent study by the National Institutes of Health found that methamphetamine-related overdose deaths nearly tripled from 2015-2019. By designating this dangerous drug as an emerging threat, we'll be able to better address this problem with a whole-of-government approach," Feinstein said.

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