SJR128

A Joint Resolution designating July 14 of each year as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day.”

Whereas, Drug traffickers are mass-producing counterfeit pills and falsely marketing the pills as legitimate prescription pills to deceive Americans; and

Whereas, The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has observed a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills containing not less than two milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a deadly dose; and

Whereas, The DEA has found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of 10 pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, which is an increase from previous analysis conducted by the DEA; and

Whereas, Fentanyl has also been detected in street drugs such as heroin and cocaine; and

Whereas, In 2020, there were 56,516 reported overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids in the United States; and

Whereas, For the 12-month period ending in October 2021, more than 105,000 individuals in the United States died of drug-induced deaths, and 69,000 of those deaths involved fentanyl; and

Whereas, According to an article in the New Jersey Monitor, in 2012, fentanyl was found in just 42 of the 1,223 drug overdose deaths in New Jersey, while in 2019, the year for which the most recent data is available, fentanyl was found in the bodies of 2,248 deceased persons, which amounts to 75 percent of the drug deaths in the State; and

Whereas, Max Lenowitz died of fentanyl on his 25th birthday, July 14, 2022. He was found with marijuana and a Xanax pill. The Xanax pill was identified as counterfeit; and

Whereas, Max was a star lacrosse player at Pascack Hills High School in Bergen County, and he was awarded a Senate and General Assembly commendation and praise citation for his athletic achievements in 2014. Nicknamed “Leno” by his teammates, Max is described as the most authentic and sincere sibling and friend one could have. His genuine warm smile made it impossible not to reciprocate; and

Whereas, Max was a giver and a light to all who knew him. Fentanyl was the end of that light; and

Whereas, Max’s mother, Patrice, has dedicated herself to raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl poisoning in street drugs; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper to designate July 14 of each year as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day” to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. July 14 of each year shall be designated as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day” to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning.

2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day” with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates July 14 of each year as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day.”

Drug traffickers are mass-producing counterfeit pills and falsely marketing the pills as legitimate prescription pills to deceive Americans. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has observed a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit pills containing not less than two milligrams of fentanyl, which is considered a deadly dose. The DEA has found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of 10 pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, which is an increase from previous analysis conducted by the DEA. Fentanyl has also been detected in street drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

In 2020, there were 56,516 reported overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids in the United States. For the 12-month period ending in October 2021, more than 105,000 individuals in the United States died of drug-induced deaths, and 69,000 of those deaths involved fentanyl.

According to an article in the New Jersey Monitor, in 2012, fentanyl was found in just 42 of the 1,223 drug overdose deaths in New Jersey, while in 2019, the year for which the most recent data is available, fentanyl was found in the bodies of 2,248 deceased persons, which amounts to 75 percent of the drug deaths in the State.

Max Lenowitz died of fentanyl on his 25th birthday, July 14, 2022. He was found with marijuana and a Xanax pill. The Xanax pill was identified as counterfeit. Max was a star lacrosse player at Pascack Hills High School in Bergen County, and he was awarded a Senate and General Assembly commendation and praise citation for his athletic achievements in 2014. Nicknamed “Leno” by his teammates, Max is described as the most authentic and sincere sibling and friend one could have. His genuine warm smile made it impossible not to reciprocate.

Max was a giver and a light to all who knew him. Fentanyl was the end of that light. Max’s mother, Patrice, has dedicated herself to raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl poisoning in street drugs.

The purpose of “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Day” is to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning.