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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.-08) participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss Big Tech’s contribution to the Fentanyl Crisis. Dr. Bucshon, a senior member of the committee, was joined by other Republican Committee members as well as four panelists who are working to ensure Big Tech is accountable for its role in this ongoing crisis. 

“Everybody has a case in their District, more than one. I have a 19-year-old woman, Elisabeth Duncan who lost her life to fentanyl and fentanyl poisoning from counterfeit prescription pills that she got from a dealer online who was advertising fentanyl, marijuana, and fire arms – believe it or not – on snapchat. It is up to the people in this room to come up with meaningful and effective solutions so we can protect children in my district in Indiana, and in communities across America, from these dangers and hold these platforms accountable,” said Dr. Bucshon during the roundtable.

In recent years, drug dealers have evolved to use social media platforms to advertise and distribute products. Often, these illicit products are laced with deadly doses of fentanyl. In Indiana alone, over 70 percent of overdose deaths in 2021 were caused by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

Click here to view Dr. Bucshon’s remarks and questions he asked to the panelists.

Click here to watch the full Energy and Commerce Roundtable.