Jelly Roll, a famous rapper and country singer, talked to U.S. lawmakers. He spoke about how bad fentanyl is for Americans who are often ignored.
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, used to deal drugs. Now, he helps people affected by heroin and fentanyl. In his talk, he said that in about five minutes, someone in the U.S. will die from drugs. There's a big chance it's because of fentanyl.
"It is important to establish earlier that I am a musician and that I have no political alliance. I am neither Democrat nor Republican. In fact, because of my past, my right to vote has been restricted," the singer said. "Thus far I have never paid attention to a political race in my life. Ironically, I think that makes me the perfect person to speak about this because fentanyl transcends partisanship and ideology."
Jelly Roll told lawmakers that about 190 people die every day in the U.S. from overdoses. This is like a full "737 plane" crashing every day.
"Could you imagine the national media attention it would get if they were reporting that a plane was crashing every single day and killing 190 people? But because it's 190 drug addicts, we don't feel that way, because America has been known to bully and shame drug addicts instead of dealing and trying to understand what the actual root of the problem is," Jelly Roll said.
The musician, who has been nominated for a Grammy, said he meets people affected by fentanyl at his concerts. He has also personally dealt with "the disease known as addiction."
"I've attended more funerals than I care to share with y'all. This committee, I could sit here and cry for days about the caskets I've carried of people I loved dearly, deeply in my soul. Good people. Not just drug addicts. Uncles, friends, cousins, normal people — some people that just got in a car wreck and started taking a pain pill manage it. One thing led to the other … how fast it spirals out of control," Jelly Roll said.
As someone who used to sell drugs, Jelly Roll told Congress he's not there to say using illegal drugs is okay. He said, "I was a part of the problem. I am here now standing as a man that wants to be a part of solution."
Jelly Roll said that selling drugs hurts people. He talked about his 15-year-old daughter's mother, who is addicted to drugs. He said, "Every day I see how drugs hurt someone in my home. I always worry if today is the day I tell my daughter her mom is another drug death statistic."
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says drug deaths went up from 2019 to 2021. Over 106,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2021. Deaths from synthetic opioids like fentanyl are increasing, with 70,601 deaths in 2021.
Jelly Roll asked Congress to act early, not just react, to stop these deaths. He wants them to pass the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. This law would punish Chinese chemical suppliers and Mexican drug cartels that bring fentanyl into the country.
"I truly believe in my heart that this bill, that this bill will stop the supply and can help stop the supply of fentanyl. But in part of being proactive, gentlemen and women and ladies, I have to be frank and tell you all that if we don't talk to the other side of Capitol Hill and stop the demand, we are going to spin our tires in the mud. Y'all are taking the first step. But I encourage you to take it outside of this room and you take it to your colleagues and your constituents and you give them the most that you can," Jelly Roll said.
"I see fans grappling with this tragedy," he said to close things out. "They seek solace and music and hope that their experiences won't befall others. They crave reassurance. These are the people I'm here to speak for, y'all. These people crave reassurance that their elected officials actually care more about human life than they do about ideology and partisanship. I stand here as a regular member of society.
"I am a stupid songwriter, y'all. But I have firsthand witnessed this in a way most people have not. I encourage y'all to not only pass this bill, but I encourage you to bring it up where it matters: at the kitchen table."
