U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a group of his colleagues in an effort to hold the CEOs of Instagram, TikTok, Snap Inc., and YouTube accountable and demand answers on what they are doing to curb the drug epidemic created by President Biden’s southern border crisis and prevent the sale of fentanyl-laced pills to teenagers and young adults on their social media platforms.
“We write to you today regarding reports that the use of your social media platforms has been linked to the sale of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills that have caused the deaths of teens and young adults across the country. In light of the devastating rise in drug overdose deaths in the U.S., especially linked to fentanyl, we are requesting more information regarding steps your companies are taking to protect children and crackdown on illegal drug sales on your platforms,” the Senators wrote.
“Social media platforms like yours provide a convenient venue for dealers to anonymously and discreetly peddle these counterfeit pills to a young audience. With 4 in 10 of these pills containing a lethal dose of fentanyl, more and more of these online transactions are ending in tragedy,” the Senators continued.
Senator Daines was joined by Senators Lee (Utah), Blackburn (Tenn.), Sullivan (Alaska), Marshall (Kan.), Lankford (Okla.), Cassidy (La.) and Hyde-Smith (Miss.).
Read the full letter the Senators sent the social media CEOs HERE.
Contact: Rachel Dumke, Blake Kernen