Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires public school students in certain grades to receive instruction concerning opioid abuse and training in administration of opioid antidotes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning public school instructional programs on opioid abuse and supplementing P.L.1987, c.389 (C.18A:40A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The instructional programs required under section 1 of P.L.1987, c.389 (C.18A:40A-1) shall include for students in grades seven through 12, instruction concerning the use and misuse of opioid drugs, the dangers of opioid abuse, the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs such as heroin, and opioid abuse prevention.
b. The instruction under subsection a. of this section shall include a component on providing appropriate assistance to an overdose victim, including: information on recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose; the importance of calling 911 for assistance; and training in how to administer an opioid antidote, such as naloxone hydrochloride, to an overdose victim in an emergency.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
Current law, P.L.1987, c.389 (C.18A:40A-1 et seq.), requires public schools to provide age-appropriate instructional programs on drugs, alcohol, anabolic steroids, tobacco, and controlled dangerous substances in each grade from kindergarten through 12. This bill would require that the instructional programs for grades seven through 12 include instruction concerning the use and misuse of opioid drugs, the dangers of opioid abuse, the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs such as heroin, and opioid abuse prevention. Under the bill, the instruction will also include a component on providing appropriate assistance to an overdose victim, including information on recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and the importance of calling 911 for assistance. Students would also be provided with training in how to administer an opioid antidote, such as naloxone hydrochloride, to an overdose victim in an emergency.