Everett may make law against exposing children to fentanyl

Everett's Mayor Cassie Franklin announced plans to create a law criminalizing the exposure of children to fentanyl. This decision follows the overdose death of a 13-month-old in May 2024, which led to the arrest of five individuals connected to the case. Detectives uncovered evidence that those arrested had knowledge of narcotics being used around children and even recorded themselves using drugs while minors were present. Franklin noted that no state legislation currently exists to address this issue, prompting local lawmakers to take action. The proposed law aims to safeguard vulnerable children from the dangers of drug exposure.

It will be presented to the City Council for consideration in the coming weeks. This initiative reflects a growing concern about the rising fentanyl crisis and its impact on youth. By enacting this law, Everett seeks to establish a legal framework to hold individuals accountable for endangering children.