Findlay Times

Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) has reintroduced Tyler's Law, a bill designed to prevent fentanyl overdoses across the United States. The legislation mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conduct a study on how often hospitals test for fentanyl in overdose cases. The results will be used to provide guidance for implementing fentanyl testing in emergency rooms.

The bill was introduced alongside Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) in the U.S. House, with Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) presenting companion legislation in the Senate.

"Illicit fentanyl and its analogs have claimed countless American lives, and we must continue to do everything we can to curb this deadly epidemic," said Latta. "That’s why I’m proud to introduce Tyler’s Law, which will help us better understand fentanyl overdoses and the fentanyl overdose testing shortfalls occurring in hospital emergency rooms."

Lieu emphasized the importance of including fentanyl testing in hospitals: "Fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdoses in the US and hospitals must test for it."

Kamlager-Dove recounted the story of her constituent, Tyler Shamash, who died from an overdose because fentanyl was not included in his hospital's drug screening: "No one should ever experience the heartbreak of losing a loved one to a fentanyl overdose."

Senator Banks highlighted the impact on families: "Too many families in Indiana and across America have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning."

Padilla described the crisis as both a public health emergency and a life-and-death issue: "Far too many people, including children, have tragically died from fentanyl overdoses."

Juli Shamash, Tyler's mother, shared her personal tragedy: "The night before Tyler died from consuming fentanyl, he was sent to the hospital with a suspected overdose... After he died, we found out it did not cover fentanyl because it was a synthetic opioid."

Currently, most drug screenings in emergency rooms do not test for synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Including it could prevent numerous deaths related to this substance. According to HHS data, such deaths increased 97-fold between 1999 and 2021.

Tyler’s Law honors Tyler Shamash's memory by advocating for nationwide standards that include fentanyl testing during emergency room visits.