I am proposing Logan’s Law because overdose deaths are no longer simply about substance use, they are about a poisoned and constantly evolving drug supply. Today, people are dying after taking substances that are not what they believed they were using. Fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, carfentanil, medetomidine, xylazine, and other synthetic adulterants are being mixed into street drugs without the user’s knowledge or consent. When these deaths occur, they are too often labeled as accidental, investigated minimally, and quickly closed, leaving families without answers and allowing the conditions that caused the death to continue unchecked.
Logan’s Law was written to be considered by the Arkansas Legislature to acknowledge this reality and to close the gap between what is happening on the street and how overdose deaths are treated after they occur. This bill is not about punishment or stigma, it is about truth, accountability, and public safety. When a substance is passed without disclosure and results in death, that death deserves the same level of investigation and seriousness as any other unnatural death. By recognizing the evolving nature of the poisoned drug supply and requiring consistent investigative standards, Logan’s Law seeks to protect future lives, support families seeking answers, and ensure that Arkansas law keeps pace with the realities we are facing today.
