AG Moody Warns Illicit Drug Users During Fentanyl Crisis: ‘You Are Playing Russian Roulette With Your Life’

Hillsborough County (FLV) – Attorney General Ashley Moody held a security briefing in Hillsborough County with law enforcement leaders on Wednesday to warn Floridians of the dangerous consequences of fentanyl and encouraged Floridians to partner with law enforcement to fight back against the deadly drug.

“If you were taking an illicit substance previously and you may have thought you could do that and would not have faced death, you are playing Russian roulette with your life now,” Moody said.

Moody said the combination of the toxicity of fentanyl along with the increasing availability in the state of Florida can lead to tragic consequences.

“Get treatment, help law enforcement, report when you have information, report suspicious activity, if you see something at a large event that looks suspicious, say something,” Moody said.

Fentanyl was the leading cause of death in the United States for people 18 to 45 in 2021. Moody previously said more than 200 Americans die every day because of fentanyl overdoses and the DeSantis Administration has long expressed concern to the Biden Administration regarding fentanyl coming across the southern border. 

Moody urged parents to talk to their children about counterfeit pills laced with Fentanyl – saying rainbow colored pills are being designed to attract children.

“One pill will kill your child,” Moody said. “The time is now to have the conversation with your children – this is not just some fun thing you do with your friends. Do not take a pill from a friend without understanding that one pill can kill you and we don’t know what’s in it.”

According to the DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. 

“We will do everything within our power to go after those manufacturing and transporting this deadly substance into our country and into state and we need to do that by classifying this drug as a ‘weapon of mass destruction,'” Moody said.

In July, Moody slammed President Joe Biden for not putting enough focus on fentanyl trafficking in his meeting with Mexico President López Obrador.

Moody previously sent a letter to President Biden asking him to classify fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. This would enable and require parts of the federal government to coordinate a uniform response to illicit fentanyl.

Although fentanyl has not been classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction, the White House has pointed out several initiatives that have been taken to tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis, including investments in agencies for national drug control programs and $293 million for CBP to prevent fentanyl smuggling, according to Fox News.

In June, Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert introduced a bill that would classify fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction, putting it under the purview of multiple agencies, not just the Department of Homeland Security.

Moody encourages Floridians who are struggling with addiction to visit TreatmentAtlas.org.