Rolla Republican's bill would make selling opioids that lead to someone's death second degree murder

(From Sen. Justin Brown, R-Rolla)

As far too many families across Missouri know first-hand, there is an epidemic of opioid drug abuse sweeping our state. These drugs – both prescribed painkillers and illegal narcotics sold on the street – tear families apart and destroy lives. In the worst cases, they literally take lives.

In 2017, more than 950 Missourians died from overdoses of opioid drugs. One out of every 65 deaths in the state that year was due to opioid abuse.

Looking just at the five counties that make up the 16th Senatorial District, there were 126 opioid overdose deaths from 2013 through 2017, according to the Department of Health and Senior Services. Crawford County had the sixth highest death toll of Missouri’s 114 counties, with 22 overdose deaths during those years. The other counties in the district didn’t fare much better, with Pulaski at No. 10, Dent in 14th place and Phelps and Camden ranking 22 and 23, respectively.

Few people start out to be addicted to opioid drugs. The chain of events that leads to an overdose death often begins with workplace or sports injury. To help the patient manage pain, doctors prescribe narcotics, such as Oxycontin or Vicodin. Contrary to what the pharmaceutical companies said when these drugs first hit the market, these powerful painkillers are highly addictive.

Once addiction takes hold, many addicted people attempt to find other sources of narcotics. They raid family medicine cabinets or buy repurposed prescription drugs on the street. Unable to get pharmaceutical narcotics, some addicted people turn to heroin, street-grade Fentanyl and other illicit drugs. In a tragic number of cases, the result of this downward spiral of addiction is death from overdose.

You would have to be hard-hearted to not feel compassion for a loved one in the throes of addiction. Many people simply do not have the power to escape the grip of these powerful narcotics. However, compassion often turns to anger and a demand for justice when addiction leads to untimely death.

The addict may not be able to help themselves, but those who knowingly supply the drugs should be held accountable. Those that peddle illegal drugs, whether they are manufactured pills or little baggies of heroin, are responsible for the deaths that result.

It’s murder, plain and simple. Or, at least it should be under the law.

This legislative session, I have introduced Senate Bill 223, which expands the offense of second degree murder to include the manufacture, delivery or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, if those drugs cause the death of the person who uses them. Put simply, I want to go after the dealers who supply the drugs.

Cracking down on dealers will not eliminate opioid addiction in Missouri, but it is one more tool to help reduce the illegal trade of these drugs. We’re already doing a lot. Doctors now realize the dangers of opioids and are prescribing fewer drugs for shorter periods of time. This should help keep patients from becoming addicted. We’re also doing a lot to educate people about the dangers of opioids.

There remains a law enforcement and judicial aspect to the opioid problem. This law, which elevates the consequences of drug dealing to the level of second degree murder, sends a powerful message that those who would profit from other people’s pain will be punished.