In the U.S. House of Representatives, a new plan to help stop dangerous drugs like fentanyl and xylazine from spreading was approved. This is part of a larger effort to protect people from these harmful substances. The plan focuses on giving the Department of Homeland Security better tools to find these drugs. This means they will be able to use smarter machines and technology to detect these drugs without needing to touch them a lot.
The goal is to use special gadgets, including portable ones, and smart technology like artificial intelligence to figure out if a substance is a harmful drug, even if it’s a new kind that isn't in any database yet. This makes it easier for law enforcement to stop these drugs from reaching people.
To make sure everything is done safely, the plan follows strict rules to ensure the tools and methods are safe, effective, and not too expensive. These rules come from expert groups who study the risks of using new technology.
The overall aim is to help protect communities by reducing the circulation of these dangerous drugs and supporting police and other organizations in their fight against drug problems across the U.S. The plan got enough votes in the House to move forward, meaning more focus will now be on stopping the spread of these drugs nationwide.