Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEEHAN. I rise in support of H.R. 1254 for the very practical reason that, as a prosecutor, I have seen the impact of what can be done when children are lured into the false promise, into the sense that somehow, because it's synthetic, it doesn't present the same kind of danger as the drugs that are often believed to be the most dangerous--the heroins, the cocaines. These are luring kids into a false sense of security.

As has been suggested, this evidence isn't anecdotal. I have had the chance to visit an emergency department at one of the leading children's hospitals in the Nation where we have seen a dramatic rise in families who are being affected because their children are coming in and are under the control of these synthetic substances. For that reason, the American College of Emergency Physicians supports this bill.

Lastly, I think we have it backwards. If what we're trying to say is that somehow we've got to let these children be exposed while we wait with the potential that there could be research done, the fact of the matter is I have worked with pharmaceutical companies and with the DEA to be able to get access to drugs that have been held under control. That can be done in working with the DEA. That's the solution. It's not the solution to put our kids at risk.

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