On July 16, 2025 President Trump signed a new bill that will put harsher sentences on people trafficking fentanyl, with a mandatory prison sentence of 10 years for being caught with 100 grams or more.

This will also permanently classify all fentanyl related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act.

As President Trump said, the legislation is “delivering another defeat for the savage drug smugglers and criminals and the cartels” — and is just one of the many historic actions the Trump Administration has taken to end the carnage wrought by foreign drug cartels in our communities.

President Trump was joined by a few of the millions of Americans whose lives have been permanently changed by the fentanyl epidemic:

• Greg Swan, who lost his son to fentanyl: “I would just like to say, thank you, Mr. President, for stopping the border crossings — full stop, mic drop … It was amazing what you did. We were being gaslit — and you came and lit a fire to that story, and we’re a lot safer for of it.” Watch
• Anne Fundner, who lost her son to fentanyl: “In the last four years, fentanyl became the number one killer to Americans ages 15 to 48 … President Trump, for four years we felt ignored, but you’ve changed that … It is a lifeline for families across America in keeping our families safe … Thank you for keeping America safe for our children. This is what we voted for.” Watch
• Jackie Siegel, who lost her daughter and sister to drug overdoses: “Mr. President, it’s an honor to be here today on behalf of our family … for this important signing.” Watch

I believe this is a great step in the right direction when it comes to fentanyl. I have seen so many lives taken and destroyed by this awful substance. One of my friends died a few years ago when she took what she believed was a xanax, but turned out to be a fentanyl pill.

I had my own run-in with fentanyl while i was in active addiction during my relapse a few years ago. I was sold a drug that was cut with fentanyl (unbeknownst to me!) and I almost died from a fentanyl overdose as a result. The dealers and cartels are putting fentanyl in everything these days to make it more addictive. But along with this, comes uninformed users that are not familiar with the effects — or have no tolerance to this drug whatsoever. It is extremely dangerous, even at very low doses. There have been many unnecessary deaths from fentanyl.

Even law enforcement has had deaths due to fentanyl poisoning from just accidentally breathing in the substance or coming into contact with it via the skin.

I am grateful for what Trump is doing.

I don’t necessarily think harsher prison sentences are going to scare the cartels or drug dealers from selling and trafficking fentanyl, however. These guys don’t care! They have all of their family and friends in prison waiting on them when they get there. There are more drugs in prisons in the USA than there are on the streets! If the war on drugs was working, then there wouldn’t be so many drugs on the streets – this nonsense has been going on for decades now! They catch the dealers, and then more pop up. There is always someone on standby to replace the ones who get caught.

I believe there needs to be a rise in addiction education, and recovery education. Only when people truly get educated about the consequences of addiction, and the truth about how it destroys lives will there be any real change for the future. It is time to stop sugar-coating the facts about addiction. It is also time to stop glorifying and glamorizing the lifestyle that selling drugs is portraying to our young people. Scarface was not “cool”. He is not someone we should want to be like. He had no hope for his future. His success was short-lived. It was all a sham. He stole it all from the lives of innocent people around him. And ultimately, he faced the consequences of his choices.

We need Jesus in this country. He is the real remedy. He is what we are missing.

Seek God while He may be found.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, we would love to help!

Mighty Man Ministry is a men’s addiction treatment program located in Southeast Georgia. It is also 100% free for men that are serious about change and are trying to find freedom from addiction.

Please see our website for more information:

www.mightymanministry.org