Grassley, Bipartisan Colleagues Seek to Prevent Youth Opioid Use and Overdoses

Grassley, Bipartisan Colleagues Seek to Prevent Youth Opioid Use and Overdoses

WASHINGTON - Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) today introduced the Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act. The bipartisan bill would establish a new grant program for Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to educate students about the dangers of synthetic opioids.

"Halting drug abuse in our communities, and especially in our schools, demands an all-hands approach. One piece of the puzzle is standing up drug prevention programs to educate young people about the effects of synthetic opioids and the resources available. I'm glad to join my colleagues in advancing this important, fiscally responsible bill to protect our next generation from a crisis that's hurting far too many Americans," saidGrassley, co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.

"In New Hampshire, we've lost too many Granite Staters-and far too many young people-to opioids. We can and must do more to bring an end to this epidemic and save lives," said Shaheen, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. "The bipartisan Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act will help communities across New Hampshire and the nation stem opioid misuse in schools by educating kids about the dangers of opioid use and working to help prevent overdoses."

"In recent years, far too many young Americans have lost their lives to opioid addiction and overdose. Just in my home state of California, fentanyl is responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths of young people between the age of 15 and 24," saidButler, who serves alongside Grassley on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I am proud to cosponsor the Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act to fund the community-based coalitions working within schools to prevent substance abuse, to decrease deadly overdoses, and to save lives."

Reps. Lori Chavez DeRemer (R-Ore.) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives.

Legislative Information:

The Keeping Drugs out of Schools Act authorizes $7 million per year for a five-year grant program. The legislation would allow elementary, middle and high schools to apply for up to $75,000 in federal funding to plan, implement and evaluate effective drug prevention initiatives. Eligible schools could renew their resources for up to three more years.

Grassley's DFC Leadership:

Grassley helped create the DFC program in 1998, after establishing Iowa's "Face It Together," or FIT - a first-of-its-kind, statewide anti-drug effort. Today, the DFC program serves 751 communities across the nation and supports 6.1 million middle and high school students.

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