Jelly Roll, the country artist, advocates for a legislative proposal to combat the proliferation of fentanyl

Jelly Roll, a rapper and country artist formerly involved in drug selling, is now advocating for the passing of anti-fentanyl legislation targeted at traffickers. In a testimony before Congress, he admitted to his past role in the crisis while emphasizing the devastating impact drugs have across the United States. Jelly Roll shared his personal experience of attending numerous funerals for loved ones and expressed his deep sorrow for the lives lost. Fentanyl, a major cause of death in the country, was responsible for over 100,000 deaths in 2022 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shockingly, the US Drug Enforcement Administration discovered that six out of ten counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl contained lethal doses of the drug. The award-winning country artist urged lawmakers to support a bill that enforces financial sanctions against drug traffickers, aiming to disrupt the supply of drugs from Mexico and China. Jelly Roll highlighted the importance of taking proactive measures to address the crisis rather than reacting to its consequences. Although he supported a piece of legislation from Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, he emphasized that the issue at hand transcends political lines. He firmly believed that the proposed bill could significantly reduce the fentanyl supply. In his testimony, Jelly Roll stated that an average of 190 people dies daily from fentanyl overdoses. He asked Congress to imagine the media attention if a plane were crashing every single day and killing 190 people. Lamenting societal attitudes, he expressed that drug addicts often face bullying and shame. Jelly Roll had a troubled past, spending a decade in and out of detention facilities for drug-related crimes since the age of 14. He admitted to once believing that selling drugs was without victims, but now recognizes the harm he caused his community and individuals. Comparing his lack of knowledge as a drug dealer to those mixing various drugs with fentanyl, he underscored the dire consequences and the urgent need to protect our loved ones. Ultimately, Jelly Roll stands before Congress as someone who wants to be a part of the solution.