Newhouse, Moolenaar offer bipartisan Stop Overdose in Schools Act

U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and John Moolenaar (R-MI) offered a bipartisan bill that would require federal funds to be set aside for naloxone training in America’s schools so that more adults would know how to administer the opioid reversal agent.

“Fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death for people ages 18-45, and no community has been left untouched by this crisis,”  Rep. Newhouse said. “This bill will be absolutely critical in helping our hardworking frontline workers prevent the tragic drug-related overdose deaths of central Washington — and America’s — youth.”

The Stop Overdose in Schools Act, H.R. 5652, also would set aside federal funds for purchasing naloxone and to increase its access for school resource officers, security personnel, and school nurses, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“I am proud to introduce the Stop Overdose in Schools Act, which would address the skyrocketing adolescent overdose rate, since it has become clear that our police and school resource officers need more support,” said Rep. Newhouse said on Sept. 21.

If enacted, H.R. 5652 also would require that 50 percent of the grants be awarded to school districts in rural areas; require that the remaining 50 percent be prioritized to school districts located in areas with high rates of drug-related overdoses by youth; and address the adolescent overdose rate, the summary says.

Rep. Newhouse sponsored H.R. 5652 alongside five original cosponsors, including Rep. Moolenaar and lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA).

“The opioid crisis has impacted Michigan families of every background. Unfortunately, this issue has begun to affect more school children than ever before,” said Rep. Moolenaar, who added that he supports the bill because it will increase access to life-saving resources and help make sure rural schools in particular receive “much-needed funding to confront this crisis.”

Rep. Schrier said H.R. 5652 should be part of a greater strategy to educate parents and children about the danger of taking any pill not prescribed by a physician and purchased in a pharmacy “because one pill can kill.” 

“It is time to address this issue and keep our children safe from what could very easily be a fatal overdose,” the congresswoman said.

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals supports the bill, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.