As GA fentanyl crisis explodes, lawmakers respond with tough new rules
A recent 50-state survey co-led by Northeastern University found that nearly one in four Americans say they know someone who struggles with opioid addiction, and Georgia is no exception.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,726 total fentanyl deaths in 2022 in Georgia alone, 2,649 in 2023, and because overdose numbers often lag, there are 2,510 cases predicted for 2024.
Because of these numbers, Georgia is taking a tougher stance on fentanyl trafficking with a new law aimed at curbing the availability of the drug.
The Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act takes effect July 1, and is meant to keep “communities safer and this deadly drug out of our citizens hands and lives,” says Lt. Governor Burt Jones.
This new law comes on the heels of last year’s Austin’s Law which added an involuntary manslaughter charge for anyone selling drugs that leads to death.
Summary of the law
Senate Bill 79 introduces stricter mandatory minimum sentences for anyone convicted of trafficking fentanyl after the upcoming date.
It moves fentanyl from Georgia’s general statutes on opiates and creates a separate schedule of offenses specifically for fentanyl and its related substances, recognizing its unique danger and potency.
How is this law different from other laws concerning fentanyl?
Previously, penalties for fentanyl trafficking were in line with those for other opioids like heroin or morphine. The new law specifically targets fentanyl, recognizing its extreme potency and lethality and ups the consequences for individuals who are arrested in possession.
Now, the minimum prison sentences for fentanyl trafficking are significantly higher than for other drugs, and the law covers smaller quantities to reflect how dangerous even tiny amounts can be.
Rules under the new law
The legislation establishes a new, more stringent framework for prosecuting fentanyl-related offenses by creating a distinct trafficking category with escalating penalties based on the quantity of the substance.
The law applies to anyone caught trafficking four grams or more of fentanyl.
It covers manufacturing, delivering, possessing, or selling fentanyl.
The law is effective for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025.
Penalties for breaking the law
Under the new law, individuals found with four grams or more of fentanyl will face mandatory penalties:
Trafficking between four and 14 grams of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years in prison.
Larger quantities can result in even longer sentences, with the harshest penalties reserved for the highest-volume traffickers.
Lawmakers, families and advocates alike have given strong support to the new bill.
Gus Walters, whose son Austin died of an overdose in 2021 and is the namesake of last year’s Austin’s Law, told Georgia Public Broadcasting, “[Austin’s Law] was more of a reactive law … now we can go after the person that sold the pill that killed that individual.”
Lawmakers hope these tougher penalties will help stem the tide of fentanyl-related deaths and make communities safer. What do you think?
Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM with the headline "As GA fentanyl crisis explodes, lawmakers respond with tough new rules."
