California Passes Law to Prevent Fentanyl Overdose in Schools
by Sara Graves
The California Legislature passed "Melanie's Law" (Senate Bill 10 introduced by Senator Dave Cortese) with the aim of preventing fentanyl overdoses in public schools.
According to Cortese's office, fentanyl is responsible for one in five youth deaths in California. It also noted that in Santa Clara County, fentanyl deaths surged by 863% between 2018 and 2021.
Under SB 10, local education agencies in California will be mandated to include protocols for responding to student opioid overdoses in their mandatory school safety plans. This legislation is designed to equip educators and other school staff with the necessary tools and knowledge to save a child who overdoses on campus, making it a legal obligation for schools to intervene in cases of opioid abuse and addiction. The bill also mandates the California Department of Education to disseminate informational materials containing awareness and safety advice regarding opioids.
“When we wrote this bill one year ago, we knew that it would be our most significant piece of legislation in 2023. SB 10 was our top priority because fentanyl has left a trail of devastation across California, and our bill establishes a series of concrete solutions to protect young people,” Cortese said.
SB 10 is named after Melanie Ramos, a 15-year-old who lost her life to a fentanyl overdose in the bathroom at Bernstein High School in Hollywood, Ca. She was found unconscious inside a school bathroom by her stepfather eight hours after her mother received a call that her daughter was missing from school. She died shortly afterwards. Two teens were arrested in connection with her overdose.
“We created a coalition of parents and educators unwilling to stand by while another young life is lost… As we celebrate SB 10 becoming law, we honor Melanie Ramos, a bright teenager who lost her life to fentanyl. Melanie’s Law will save young lives in California for decades to come,” Cortese added.
“Melanie was an amazing, talented young person. Her memory lives with her friends and family, and her legacy will be felt across California. I miss her dearly, but her memory and my love for her has given me the strength to speak so that other mothers will not have to suffer what I am suffering,” said Elena Perez, Melanie’s mother.
“I thank Governor Newsom for signing Melanie’s Law. I ask every middle and high school employee in California to do the overdose prevention training and have Narcan available. Let’s please protect every young person,” Perez added.
