Staff photo / R. Michael Semple U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, at podium, discusses the fentanyl issue in the Valley during a news conference Monday afternoon at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown. With him, from left, are Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe, Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova and Stark County Sheriff George Maier.

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, flanked by area law enforcement officials, made an appearance Monday at the Covelli Center in downtown Youngstown touting the passage of the Fend Off Fentanyl Act.

The bill, which Brown sponsored, primarily focuses on the urgent need to confront the grave consequences of fentanyl across the country and in Ohio, including in the Mahoning Valley.

Brown underscored the bipartisan effort that resulted in the bill’s passage, explaining its targeted approach to combating cartels and holding Chinese chemical companies accountable for their role in fentanyl production and smuggling into the United States.

Brown collaborated on the bill with Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, to bring it to fruition. In his address, Brown shared alarming statistics, stating, “400 people die each month from fentanyl exposure. That’s 400 people, families, living in communities just like this. We had to take action.”

The Fend Off Fentanyl Act targets the sources of fentanyl production by sanctioning precursor chemical makers in China, and Mexican drug cartels involved in its distribution.

“When you sanction something, you block and freeze the assets of the traffickers. You restrict access to the cartels’ money and property and you cut the cartels off from the U.S. banking system more than anything,” Brown said. “The focus of this bill is to sanction all of the precursor chemical makers in China and to sanction the Mexican drug lord cartels that make the stuff and then smuggle it into the United States.”

Regarding monitoring the effectiveness of the bill, Brown said, “We keep talking to the Treasury Department. They know how to do this. They’ve done this kind of sanctioning before. They will give us back reports on what the sanctions mean, how much of this stuff they have essentially taken off the market, how much of the fentanyl they have kept from being made, how many arrests have been made in Mexico. All of that they will measure and let us know and keep turning the pressure on it.”

MAHONING COUNTY

Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova echoed the need for urgency.

“Fentanyl has been plaguing our communities across the country and sadly, our community has not been spared. This multi-billion dollar industry crosses oceans and spans continents too.”

DeGenova underlined the danger posed by fentanyl’s deceptive appearance, noting, “Fentanyl is particularly dangerous because it can be pressed into pills, some of which are colorful and appealing to children. They can look like candy. It can also be mixed with other drugs such as cocaine.”

DeGenova said her office works with local and federal agencies to prosecute fentanyl trafficking and possession cases.

“Collaboration among multiple agencies is critical, as it not only enhances resources, but it extends jurisdictional reach,” she said.

Since January of 2023, she said her office has prosecuted 172 people for fentanyl-related offenses, including trafficking and possession of substances containing fentanyl.

“In one case, a 23-month-old child died of acute fentanyl intoxication. The investigation revealed that the toddler ingested the drug sometime before he went to bed. He was found the next day unresponsive in his pack and play,” DeGenova said, noting her office is prosecuting the child’s parents for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in connection to his death.

“Targeting the traffickers and dismantling their fentanyl distribution networks is a huge step toward eliminating this dangerous drug from entering our communities. We will support community outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and the legal consequences of trafficking,” she said.

TRUMBULL COUNTY

Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe highlighted the alarming overdose rates in the region.

“In Trumbull County, we average an overdose every day, with an overdose death occurring every three days on average,” Monroe said. “Almost everyone can relate to knowing someone who has experienced fentanyl, one of the most dangerous illicit substances.

“In some cases, we’ve knocked the shipment out and had it shipped back over here to a private carrier. And in cooperation with that carrier delivered the fentanyl to our suspect in Warren and arrested him.”

Monroe talked about the disparity in production costs and selling price of fentanyl.

“They’re able to make that drug really cheaply and sell it very expensively. We’ve seen it laced in every street drug from cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, to marijuana,” he said. “A drug abuser realizes that they are getting too high from, let’s say, the marijuana that they’re buying illegally on the streets and it’s really good stuff. But there’s no quality control. So you get too much fentanyl in that marijuana. That could kill you.”

Monroe also discussed the risks faced by law enforcement officers during fentanyl-related incidents. He recounted a couple of exposure incidents at the sheriff’s office.

“Once was during an overdose and deputies actually saved somebody and then the guy was very upset and kicked a table over with fentanyl on it and our deputies were exposed. It was a huge process in the cleanup. Since then, since the early stages of fentanyl coming in, we’ve gotten better at the cleanup but at the time we had to hire a company to come in to not only launder our uniforms, but clean the vehicles,” Monroe said.

YOUNGSTOWN POLICE

Youngstown Police Department Captain Jason Simon underscored the severity of the fentanyl crisis.

“The rate is a national emergency here in the great state of Ohio and in the city of Youngstown in our Mahoning Valley. The crisis has reached catastrophic levels,” he said.

Citing data from Mahoning County Public Health, Simon revealed alarming statistics.

“In 2017, Ohio as a whole had the second-highest overdose rate in the country. Mahoning County was the 10th highest in the state. Even several years later, Mahoning County still remains very high,” Simon said.

In 2022, the city experienced at least 486 overdose incidents with 88 deaths, and 2023 saw 481 incidents with 84 deaths, he said.

“Numbers alone don’t adequately illuminate the compounding sufferings of family members and loved ones,” Simon said.

He praised Brown’s efforts and emphasized the importance of the Fend Off Fentanyl Act.

“Obviously, this is a bill that affects fentanyl on a national and international level. As it becomes more challenging for fentanyl to come into our country, which is what this bill aims to do, the less of it should get to our streets,” Simon said.