News / FJP Releases
New FJP Issue Brief Arms Prosecutors and Policymakers with Facts to Counter Fentanyl Myths and Fear-Based Policies
November 6, 2025 — Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) today released a new issue brief, Correcting the Record: Fentanyl Myths and Misinformation, which confronts the growing wave of falsehoods and fear-based narratives surrounding fentanyl. The brief provides prosecutors and policymakers with the facts they need to respond to misinformation and to push back against ineffective “tough on crime” approaches that have failed communities for decades.
The release comes at a pivotal time as fentanyl continues to dominate public discussion and political debate. While many jurisdictions are seeing declines in overdose deaths, renewed efforts to criminalize addiction and funding cuts to vital programs threaten to reverse that progress. After years of increases, fentanyl-related deaths declined by nearly 31 percent from 2023 to 2024, a shift experts attribute to greater awareness, harm reduction efforts, and expanded access to naloxone and treatment. Yet over 70,000 people still die each year from overdoses involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. This is a stark reminder that despite progress, families, first responders, and communities continue to bear the weight of this crisis every day.
“Behind every overdose is a person, someone’s loved one whose life mattered,” said FJP Executive Director Aramis Ayala. “For more than a decade, fentanyl has devastated communities across the country, from big cities to small towns. After years of loss, we’re finally seeing progress in reducing overdose deaths, but that progress remains fragile. We cannot allow fear, misconceptions, or misinformation to undo the gains we’ve made. The evidence is clear: punishment does not save lives or reduce addiction. Prosecutors and policymakers must lead with science, empathy, and equity if we truly want to save lives and build safer, healthier communities.”
The brief also cautions against recent legislative efforts that focus on punishment instead of addressing the root causes of substance use. Research shows punitive approaches do not deter drug use or trafficking and disproportionately harm communities of color. Saving lives, not scoring political points, must remain the goal for prosecutors and policymakers.
The full issue brief, Correcting the Record: Fentanyl Myths and Misinformation, is available here.