Sen. Daines presses Big Tech execs on how social media platforms plan to combat fentanyl, illicit drug sales

Montana Sen. Steve Daines sent a letter to the CEOs of Sanpchat, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube on Tuesday asking about what steps they are taking to combat drug sales online.

Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Email tips to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.

"We write to you today regarding reports that the use of your social media platforms has been linked to the sale of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills that have caused the deaths of teens and young adults across the country," Daines wrote in the Tuesday letter. "In light of the devastating rise in drug overdose deaths in the U.S., especially linked to fentanyl, we are requesting more information regarding steps your companies are taking to protect children and crackdown on illegal drug sales on your platforms."

U.S. overdose deaths have doubled in 30 states over the past two years. Between November 2020 and November 2021, more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Around 66% of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl, though many people who overdose were unaware they were taking fentanyl.