Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), introduced the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to strengthen efforts to address the substance misuse disorder crisis that is impacting communities across the nation. The bipartisan bill would help prevent youth opioid use and overdoses by establishing a new grant program that allows Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to provide resources educating students about the dangers of synthetic opioids. U.S. Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Lori Chavez DeRemer (R-Ore.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“In recent years, far too many young Americans have lost their lives to opioid addiction and overdose. Just in my home state of California, fentanyl is responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths of young people between the age of 15 and 24,” said Butler. “I am proud to cosponsor the Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to fund the community-based coalitions working within schools to prevent substance abuse, to decrease deadly overdoses, and to save lives.”
“In New Hampshire, we’ve lost too many Granite Staters—and far too many young people—to opioids. We can and must do more to bring an end to this epidemic and save lives,” said Shaheen. “The bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act will help communities across New Hampshire and the nation stem opioid misuse in schools by educating kids about the dangers of opioid use and working to help prevent overdoses.”
“Halting drug abuse in our communities, and especially in our schools, demands an all-hands approach. One piece of the puzzle is standing up drug prevention programs to educate young people about the effects of synthetic opioids and the resources available,” said Grassley. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in advancing this important, fiscally responsible bill to protect our next generation from a crisis that’s hurting far too many Americans.”
The Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act would authorize $7 million per year for five years for a new grant program eligible to DFC grantees and other qualifying DFCs. The bipartisan bill allows DFC grantees to apply for additional funding to partner with schools to plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive school-based substance use prevention programing.
Earlier this year, Senator Butler introduced a resolution to designate May 7th, 2024 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day in order to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit fentanyl pills.
Find the full text of the bill HERE.
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