WASHINGTON — A Minnesota mother who lost her son to fentanyl poisoning urged lawmakers Tuesday to hold social media platforms accountable for their role in the illicit drug trade.
Bridgette Norring, founder of the Devin J. Norring Foundation, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasizing how online platforms allow traffickers to connect with buyers and distribute deadly substances with little oversight.
“Today marks another month that my son, Devin Joseph Norring, was taken from this earthly world—well before he ever had a chance to really start his life,” Norring said. “You see, Senators, parents like myself no longer measure our time by upcoming holidays or the changing seasons. We measure our time by how many weeks, months, or years since our children lost their lives.”
Norring, who previously shared her story on the Grieving Out Loud podcast, was among those supporting the Halt Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act. The bill, introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. The move aims to close legal loopholes that allow traffickers to sell chemically altered versions of fentanyl that evade existing drug laws.
Fentanyl is at the center of the opioid crisis, responsible for the majority of overdose deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in more than 75% of opioid-related deaths in 2021. The Drug Enforcement Administration first placed fentanyl-related substances under temporary Schedule I classification in 2018, but that designation is set to expire on March 31, 2025, unless Congress acts.
Supporters of the HALT Fentanyl Act, including law enforcement agencies and some lawmakers, argue that permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs would enhance the government’s ability to combat trafficking and prosecute dealers. Under current law, fentanyl is a Schedule II drug, meaning it has recognized medical uses but is highly addictive.
However, more than 150 organizations opposed the bill in 2023, warning that it could reinforce ineffective drug policies that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. Critics argue that stricter criminal penalties have not curbed the crisis and that additional resources should be focused on prevention, treatment and harm reduction efforts.
The HALT Fentanyl Act will now move to a committee vote to determine whether it advances to the full Senate for consideration.