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.

The fentanyl crisis has become a pressing concern across the United States, with devastating consequences for individuals and communities. Janice M. Celeste, President & CEO of FentanylSolution.org and The Fentanyl Solution Group, is helping to lead the charge to combat this crisis. Recently, Celeste attended “Wake Up Newport,” an event hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, where she met with District Attorney Todd Spitzer to discuss the fentanyl crisis in Orange County. In this meeting, Spitzer shared his plan to take Orange County cases of fentanyl poisonings and prosecute them at the federal level, where prosecutors don’t have to prove intent. This move comes as California law requires that prosecutors prove that the dealer knew there was fentanyl in the counterfeit pill to hold them accountable for the harm caused by the drug.

The fentanyl crisis has been growing exponentially, with the drug being the leading cause of death for 18-45-year-olds in the U.S. Additionally, Fentanyl is the number one killer of children in Orange County, California. In California, 110 people die from fentanyl every year. Shockingly, 98 percent of pills sold on social media are fake, according to the DEA.

-In response to the fentanyl crisis, Senator Tom Umberg presented SB44, a bill with an admonishment similar to a DUI. FentanylSolution.org was an official supporter of SB44, which reads that if a drug dealer is caught with fentanyl they are read a warning that if they go out and sell fentanyl again and somebody dies, you will be prosecuted for murder.-

Unfortunately, Umberg’s bill did not make it past the California Public Safety Commission. However, The Fentanyl Solution Group is sponsoring a proposition for the Presidential ballot, which will allow the people of California to vote for stronger laws against drug dealers who kill. You can support our proposition by contacting us at 888-931-6244 and letting us know how you can get involved.

In a speech at the “Wake Up Newport” event, Spitzer warned about the proliferation of fentanyl in Orange County. He highlighted the importance of holding drug dealers accountable for the harm caused by fentanyl and spoke about the difficulty of proving intent in fentanyl-related cases. Prosecuting these cases at the federal level, where intent does not need to be proven, is a temporary way to address the issue.

The fentanyl crisis is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Celeste and FentanylSolution.org are working tirelessly to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and push for stronger laws to hold drug dealers accountable for their actions.

The fentanyl crisis is a major public health issue that demands urgent attention and action. We must work together to raise awareness, improve access to addiction treatment, and hold drug dealers accountable for the harm caused by fentanyl. You can support the efforts of organizations like FentanylSolution.org and take action to combat this deadly epidemic by volunteering or donating. Signup on our website or go to the donation page here. 

Janice M. Celeste, the President & CEO of FentanylSolution.org, appeared on NBC’s News Conference with Conan Nolan to discuss the fentanyl crisis and the proposed Poll-to-Prop ballot initiative. During the interview, Celeste presented her opposing views on the War on Drugs to Public Safety Committee’s Chairman, Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who has been reluctant to pass harsher penalties for drug dealers who kill with fentanyl.

Celeste argued that the fentanyl crisis is different from the War on Drugs, pointing out the development of the internet and social media as a key factor in the crisis. She explained how drug dealers are killing exponentially like never before in history, and how they are targeting children en masse, grooming them to become addicts by following them on social media.

In contrast, Jones-Sawyer has referred to fentanyl as the War on Drugs, but has been hesitant to pass harsher penalties for drug dealers. Celeste challenged this statement, emphasizing the urgency of the fentanyl crisis and the need for a comprehensive solution. 

Celeste’s organization has proposed the Poll-to-Prop ballot initiative, which is a ballot measure that would increase penalties for dealers who knowingly sell drugs laced with fentanyl.

Celeste discussed that fentanyl is often added to other drugs without the user’s knowledge. Celeste also emphasized that if drug dealers stalked and groomed children in-person, they would go to prison. Why is it different if they do the same actions on a computer?

The Poll-to-Prop fentanyl ballot initiative has gained support from a wide range of organizations, including law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and addiction treatment centers.

 The proposed Poll-to-Prop is a promising step towards preventing accidental poisonings and saving lives, and Celeste’s message about the need for public support cannot be emphasized enough.

Celeste urged the public to support the initiative, donate, and emphasized that it is a critical step towards addressing the fentanyl crisis and saving lives. “We need an army,” said Celeste. Every bit counts but bigger donations will get us there in time for the Presidential election. You can become a sponsor or donate by emailing at info@fentanylsolution.org or calling 888-931-6244.

The supervisor went on to speak about funding that put naloxone in all of the schools for students who might overdose and the importance of everyone having the spray. Celeste second that by addressing the audience and explaining why everyone should have naloxone in their first aid kits at home and in their cars. Wagner informed the crowd that they could easily be the first responder for someone else or a neighbor’s child.

In addition, Wagner will be speaking at an upcoming townhall titled, Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Orange County and hopefully his office will plan an upcoming townhall for the city of Orange, as well. You can view a short video of the meeting above. You can watch the entire video on Facebook, where Wagner referred to Celeste to answer another question from the audience. If you are interested in our Lunch & Learns, where your company and employees can get Kloxxado training (and naloxone), contact FentanylSolution.org for more information at 888-931-6244.