Washington — The Department of Transportation is asking for feedback on a proposed rule that would add fentanyl and norfentanyl to its drug testing panels.
Published on Sept. 2, the proposal is intended to “harmonize” DOT drug-testing regulations with a Department of Health and Human Services rule that was published in January and went into effect July 7. The HHS rule adds fentanyl – a synthetic opioid considered 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine – and norfentanyl to Schedule I and II drug testing programs for federal workers.
Norfentanyl is a metabolite of fentanyl and an immediate precursor used in the illicit manufacturing of fentanyl.
DOT says adding the substances to drug testing panels is “also in the interest of transportation safety, given compelling information regarding the number of overdose deaths in the United States involving fentanyl.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that half of all pills seized by the agency nationwide contain a lethal dose of fentanyl – 2 milligrams. “For perspective,” the agency adds, “1 gram of fentanyl, equivalent in size to a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to 500 people.”
Comments on the proposed rule are due Oct. 17.
