Families Against Fentanyl Unveils FOIA Response

Akron, OH — Today Families Against Fentanyl unveiled the government’s response to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) inquiry regarding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intra-agency correspondence about illicit fentanyl being used as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). 

The FOIA was submitted by Families Against Fentanyl in June of 2022. The Michael Best law firm in Washington, DC was retained for the project. 

Chief among the response: a memo from the Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) dated February 11, 2019 stating: 

·        “…fentanyl would be considered a WMD material when certain criteria are met (e.g. quantity and configuration.” 

·        “The…Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018, provides an opportunity to apply DHS CWMD assets and capabilities to the fentanyl problem through the lens of WMD.” 

·        “CWMD, as a support component, already provides direct support to DHS front line operating Components for WMD detection and prevention. The development and deployment of new capabilities that include fentanyl as a target substance would be a minor adjustment to current activities.” 

In response, Families Against Fentanyl founder James Rauh issued the following statement: 

“The information released via our FOIA request confirms what Families Against Fentanyl has long maintained: declaring illicit fentanyl a Weapon of Mass Destruction aligns with government interests and would expand the ability of federal agencies to counter this scourge. Moreover, a WMD declaration could be implemented quickly, easily, and with resources that already exist within the federal infrastructure. Given these facts, Families Against Fentanyl renews our call for the Biden Administration to formally designate illicit fentanyl the Weapon of Mass Destruction that it is.” 

The FOIA response can be found on the Families Against Fentanyl website at here.