HAGERSTOWN, Md. ( DC News Now ) — Fentanyl has been a serious concern for law enforcement and health officials throughout the Hagerstown region.

That concern brought Maryland Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery County) to Hagerstown Friday to meet with the women at Brooke’s House, a women’s addiction recovery center.

The lawmaker explained that his legislation would monitor the collection of data on fentanyl found in blood banks.

“This is a way to combat the illegal circulation of opioids in communities across the state,” Vogel said. “It will help close the gap in fentanyl testing [and] improve the reporting process.”

Vogel’s bill to require hospital toxicology screenings to test for fentanyl has been duplicated in other state legislatures across the country.