Bill > A3909

This bill, known as the "Illicit Opioid Supply Substances Poisoning Awareness Act," mandates that school districts in New Jersey provide instruction to students in grades six through 12 about the dangers of substances found in the illicit opioid supply, which are prevalent or emerging in the state. This instruction will be integrated into the comprehensive health and physical education curriculum and will cover topics such as abuse prevention, awareness of poisoning risks, the dangers of synthetic opioids and common non-opioid adulterants like xylazine, recognizing and responding to opioid poisoning emergencies, and understanding legal protections for those who administer opioid antidotes, such as naloxone, or seek medical help for overdoses. The Commissioner of Education will provide schools with existing resources compiled by the Commissioner of Health, drawing from federal and state health agencies, and the Department of Education will maintain information on its website regarding this instruction, safety materials, outreach organizations, mental health resources, and where to access naloxone. The bill also requires the State Board of Education to update health standards to incorporate this instruction and specifies that the law will take effect immediately but will first apply to the school year following the next regularly scheduled update to the health standards.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A3909