Bill > S08466

This bill requires the New York State Education Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to develop a comprehensive fentanyl education and awareness program for all public, charter, and private schools. The program mandates annual instruction for students in grades six through twelve about fentanyl, a highly potent and dangerous synthetic opioid, including its risks, lethal potential, and overdose symptoms. The curriculum will cover topics such as the nature of fentanyl, dangers of unprescribed pills, overdose recognition, and strategies to resist peer pressure, with a unique emphasis on personal stories from bereaved parents who have lost children to fentanyl poisoning. Schools will be required to provide annual assemblies or class-based instruction featuring real-life testimonies, naloxone (a medication that reverses opioid overdose) training, and educational materials from sources like the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additionally, schools must ensure naloxone is available on-site and are encouraged to establish student-led awareness clubs. The bill aims to save lives by providing critical life-saving knowledge, promoting prevention, and creating a comprehensive educational approach to addressing the fentanyl public health crisis among youth.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8466