Fentanyl has long been a controlled substance. It is illegal to buy or sell it, or to move it across state lines. Those who do so can be charged with possession, intent to sell or distribute, and many other similar charges.
This drug sometimes makes the news because it is very deadly to those who are exposed to it. But many people still don’t fully grasp exactly what the picture looks like today. Let’s break down some of the key facts and statistics about fentanyl use to make things a bit more clear.
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Men make up 86.2% of all those accused of fentanyl trafficking.
This is certainly a crime that men are accused of more often than women. They make up the vast majority of those charged with trafficking fentanyl, coming in at 86.2%. Similar trends are often found across other types of drug charges.
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These charges have become far more common recently.
Compared to something like marijuana or cocaine, fentanyl charges are far less common. In 2018, the government reported that they had made 433 arrests. What’s interesting to know is that this is a dramatic increase from just nine arrests back in 2014. It’s very clear that the demand for this drug seems to be increasing.
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Those arrested are 33 years old, on average.
To help paint a picture of who may be facing these charges, it’s important to note that the average age of someone at their arrest is 33 years old. While you can certainly find both younger and older individuals who have been charged, this is a crime for those nearing middle age.
4. A typical sentence runs for 74 months.
If you are facing charges, one major thing that you need to know is that 74 months is the length of the average sentence for those who were convicted of trafficking fentanyl. That works out to just over six years. Additionally, the government claims to have a conviction rate of 97.4%, citing that as the total percentage of individuals who were sentenced to time behind bars.
Exploring your defense options
If you have been accused of possessing, selling or even trafficking fentanyl, you can see just how seriously the government takes this. It’s incredibly important that you understand all of the defense options that you have at this time.