Families of overdose victims traveled to Albany back in January to throw their support behind a bill that would hold drug dealers accountable for overdose deaths. The law, named Chelsey’s Law, proposes to address the current drug crisis by charging suppliers of drugs that cause fatalities with manslaughter.
Gene and Sue Murray lost their son over a decade ago to a fatal drug overdose. Tragically, another one of their children, their daughter Chelsey, fought opioid use disorder. Chelsey attempted to recover by going to drug rehabilitation, only to be allegedly approached by her dealer after being released. She passed away due to fentanyl poisoning in August 2022.
The law is named in Chesey’s memory.
“We would like to express our support for a new proposed law, ‘Chelsey’s Law,’ named in honor of our beloved daughter,” said the Murray’s in a statement. “After her tragic overdose from fentanyl and the arrest of the drug dealer, we were shocked to learn that in New York State, Chelsey’s fentanyl dealer who caused her death could not be charged with anything beyond the sale of the drugs that killed her.”
The Murray family called for stronger laws to hold dealers more accountable for their actions.
The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) and Senators Dean Murray (R-Patchogue), Anthony Palumbo (R-Riverhead), and Steven D. Rhoads (R- Massapequa). It includes proposals to strengthen prosecutions against dealers of fatal fentanyl doses, criminalize the illegal use of Xylazine, allow overdose victims’ families access to the Crime Victims Fund, and enable prosecutors to request bail for dealers of deadly fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
The January announcement of the bill in Albany was attended by District Attorney Ray Tierney, Long Island legislators, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, members of law enforcement, labor unions, community activists, and constituents.
The statistics illustrate a nationwide epidemic.
The initiative comes in response to alarming statistics, with Suffolk County reporting over 400 overdose deaths in 2022, primarily driven by fentanyl. Nationwide, more than 110,000 lives were lost to fentanyl poisoning in the same year. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, nationwide, 7 out of every 10 pills sold on the streets are surreptitiously laced with fentanyl.
“We have many different tools in our toolbox to combat fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, but one tool is missing: a specific statute that provides us with a clear path to charge dealers for deaths that occur when they sell, deliver, or administer their poison,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “Dealers must be held accountable, not only for selling dangerous illicit drugs, but for taking lives and ripping apart families.”
Linda Ventura, founder, and executive director of Thomas’ Hope Foundation was present at the rally and press conference. Linda’s son died of a fatal overdose over a decade ago on Long Island, and she turned her grief into helping other families. Ventura has actively supported the passage of a Death by Dealer statute since 2021, when it was introduced by then – Assemblyman Kaminsky and Senator Palumbo.
“It is time that New York State appropriately penalizes the people that are distributing this deadly poison, knowing it is lethal and is killing our loved ones, particularly our young adults,” Ventura said.
For more information on the proposed legislation click here.
