Bill Overview
Title: Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act
Description: This bill allows states and local educational agencies to use unexpended COVID-19 elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds for additional purposes. In particular, these funds may be used for (1) purchasing naloxone or other opioid antagonists; (2) providing training to school nurses, teachers, school administrators, and school resource officers on how to administer naloxone or other opioid antagonists; and (3) providing fentanyl awareness classes or materials to students.
Sponsors: Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals globally exposed to fentanyl risks, particularly youth
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill focuses on the use of funds by states and local educational agencies for specific activities that combat the opioid crisis in schools.
- Children who are at risk of opioid exposure due to the rise in fentanyl use will be directly impacted by the measures this bill aims to support.
- School staff, including nurses, teachers, administrators, and resource officers, will also be impacted as they receive training on opioid antagonists.
- The general approach of the bill is educational and preventive, focusing on reducing the risks of fentanyl within the school environment.
Reasoning
- The budget is intended to provide schools with resources to manage the fentanyl crisis more effectively, focusing on prevention and emergency response.
- Given that the target population includes school children and staff, these are the individuals whose wellbeing might be directly impacted by this policy.
- While students are a primary focus, it is important to also simulate the experiences of adults involved, such as teachers and school nurses, who will be affected by having training and resources available.
- The policy would likely improve wellbeing scores due to increased safety perceptions and better preparedness to handle emergencies.
- Overall community wellbeing might improve due to reduced anxiety around fentanyl-related incidents in schools.
- We should consider geographic and demographic variability, as not all areas may have the same level of fentanyl risk.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having naloxone in schools makes me feel safer knowing there are precautions against overdoses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
High School Principal (Omaha, NE)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training provided by this policy is crucial for my faculty to respond effectively to potential fentanyl incidents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
School Nurse (Rural Tennessee)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm relieved that funding will help us get naloxone; it's a vital tool in managing overdoses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Middle School Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel more confident knowing my school is prepared to address drug-related incidents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to training on naloxone administration empowers teachers to protect students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Parent (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing that schools have access to opioid antagonists gives me peace of mind for my children's safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
School Resource Officer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional training for dealing with fentanyl and similar substances is vital for school safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
School District Official (Boston, MA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The flexibility to use COVID-19 relief funds for fentanyl prevention strengthens our community programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
High School Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fentanyl awareness classes make me more cautious about drug use and its dangers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
School Superintendent (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring naloxone is in schools is a critical step for our district's emergency preparedness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 2: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy aims to use already allocated funds, which reduces the need for new federal expenditure.
- The educational focus and training will enhance community awareness and readiness to counteract opioid-related incidents, although its quantifiable benefits are challenging to measure upfront.
- Monitoring and measuring the outcomes of the reallocated funds could be crucial for assessing the long-term success of the program.