All Pennsylvania high schools would be required to keep naloxone, the opioid-reversing drug, on hand under new legislation introduced Wednesday in Harrisburg.
The bill, sponsored by State Senators Christine Tartaglione and Nikil Saval of Philadelphia, would apply to every high school across the state—public and private, urban and rural alike. If enacted, Pennsylvania would join a small number of states, including New Jersey, that mandate schools to stock opioid antagonists for use in emergencies.
The proposal grew out of advocacy by the University of Pennsylvania’s Forum for Legislative Action, a student group that has been vocal about the impact of the fentanyl crisis on young people. The organization has argued that requiring naloxone in schools is a proactive step to prevent overdoses and provide communities with critical tools to address a worsening public health emergency.
Pennsylvania has permitted schools to store naloxone since 2015, when former Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation allowing them to do so. The new bill would significantly expand that policy by making the practice mandatory rather than optional.
While all schools would need to maintain a supply of naloxone, the legislation does not compel staff to administer it. Employees who wish to become “opioid emergency responders” would be able to volunteer, but no one could be required to undergo training or participate in overdose response efforts.
The push comes amid rising concern over opioid use among teens and the growing presence of fentanyl in communities across the state. Supporters of the bill describe it as a life-saving measure designed to ensure schools are prepared for emergencies that can unfold quickly and without warning.
Source: Phila Inquirer