On March 23rd, 2023, Families of Fentanyl Victims and Drug Induced Homicide rallied in front of Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins’ office to push for the passage of SB 44, also known as Alexandra’s Law. Matt Capelouto, the father of Alexandra, who the bill is named after spoke about how Atkins could end the deaths from fentanyl tomorrow, if she wanted to. The bill, SB 44, in which FentanylSolution.org is an official supporter, would allow drug dealers to be admonished if caught with fentanyl; with the warning that if they continue to sell the drug and someone dies as a result, they will be charged with murder. The goal of the rally was to convince Atkins to bypass the California Public Safety Committee and bring the bill directly to the floor for elected Senators to vote on.

Footage of the rally in front of Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins’ office. Click thumbnail to play the video.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. California is currently the number one state for fentanyl deaths, with an average of 110 people dying every week from the drug. That’s equivalent to a 747 airplane crashing every 10 days. And it’s not just a problem in California – fentanyl is now the number one killer of 18 through 45-year-olds in the United States, surpassing COVID-19, car accidents, suicides, and cancer.

At the rally, the President & CEO of FentanylSolution.org and The Fentanyl Solution Group, Janice M. Celeste, and Board Member Tina Burke spoke to the press about the need for action. Burke shared her personal story of losing her son, Christian to fentanyl and emphasized the need for stricter penalties for drug dealers who sell deadly substances. Celeste promoted the organizations’ Poll-to-Prop initiative and upcoming Mega-Zoom Meeting on March 24th at 1 pm PDT for families of Fentanyl Victims. More information can be found on FentanylSolution.org’s Facebook page. 

The California Public Safety Committee has been stonewalling bills with penalties attached. There must be consequences for those who profit from selling deadly substances. The current situation with fentanyl is a prime example of this. While admonishing drug dealers may seem like a small step, it’s a necessary one in the fight to save lives. It sends a clear message that selling fentanyl is not only illegal but also potentially deadly, and that there will be consequences for those who choose to continue to profit from it.

The rally by Families of Fentanyl Victims and Drug Induced Homicide in front of Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins’ office was a much-needed call to action. The passage of SB 44, or Alexandra’s Law, would be a crucial step forward in the fight against fentanyl deaths in California and across the country. It’s time for lawmakers to recognize the severity of the fentanyl epidemic and take action to save lives.