Bill Overview
Title: Student and Student Athlete Opioid Misuse Prevention Act
Description: or the Student Athlete Opioid Prevention Act This bill authorizes a program through which the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration may award grants or other assistance for preventing and addressing the misuse of opioids and other medications used for treating pain or injury recovery among students and student athletes. Entities eligible for the grants include states, nonprofits, and drug-free community coalitions.
Sponsors: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Target Audience
Population: Students including student athletes globally
Estimated Size: 75600000
- The bill targets the prevention and intervention of opioid misuse among all students, which includes a significant portion of the under 18 and young adult demographic.
- Students, including student athletes, are specifically mentioned, indicating a focus on both general student populations and those involved in sports, who may be at higher risk of opioid misuse due to sports-related injuries.
- The bill allows for grants to states, suggesting a broad implementation across various educational levels (middle school, high school, college) within the United States.
- Globally, students are a large demographic, including primary, secondary, and tertiary education levels, encompassing potentially hundreds of millions of individuals.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a significant sector of the youth and young adult population involved in education and sports in the U.S., which brings the bill into contact with a wide variety of personal experiences. By simulating individuals from various backgrounds, we get a comprehensive sense of how the new policy could affect typical students, student athletes, and their broader community.
- The budget constraints mean that we have to balance the broad target population against the specific needs of those who are most at risk, like student athletes or students in areas with high opioid misuse rates. This implies selecting educational institutions strategically and concentrating efforts in communities with strong stakeholder involvement, like active nonprofits.
- Interviews will extend across different ages and stages of education to reflect diversity within the student demographic targeted by the policy. Some interviews will represent no impact scenarios to depict those outside the core focus of the grant program.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how pain medication was prescribed too easily after my injury.
- Programs targeting athletes like me could help prevent long-term issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
College Student Athlete (Miami, FL)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I know several teammates who've gotten into trouble with painkillers after injuries.
- The policy could fund essential workshops to educate athletes on these dangers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems this bill focuses on athletes mainly.
- I wonder if it can trickle down to help students generally in understanding opioid misuse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
University Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding opioid risks is crucial before we enter professional practice.
- Funding education and preventative measures in colleges would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
High School Student Athlete (Denver, CO)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having extra workshops and support could be very helpful after injuries.
- It's good they want to address this issue specifically for young athletes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Recent College Graduate (New York, NY)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish resources like these had been available during my time.
- It's reassuring to see this issue taken seriously now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
High School Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have friends who are athletes; I think the focus on athletes makes sense.
- Overall, I feel it doesn't really impact me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Community College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Opioid misuse is a big problem in my community.
- A policy like this could really help people my age who are already struggling with pain management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Middle School Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 14 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think more education at school about opioids would be good even for non-athletes.
- The focus on athletes seems justified but maybe it can expand later.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Vocational College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sports injuries can lead to misuse without proper support.
- Awareness through educational programs would help future students avoid past mistakes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $260000000)
Year 3: $220000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $270000000)
Year 5: $240000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $290000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $230000000, High: $370000000)
Year 100: $350000000 (Low: $270000000, High: $440000000)
Key Considerations
- The significant upfront investment is anticipated to produce societal benefits by reducing future healthcare costs and improving educational outcomes.
- Coordination among schools, nonprofit organizations, and coalitions is crucial for successful program implementation.
- Potential variability in grant distribution efficiency might affect the program's cost-effectiveness.