Madison, WI —Senator Jeff Smith (D–Brunswick) and Representative Jodi Emerson (D–Eau Claire) have introduced new legislation addressing one of the most urgent public health crises facing Wisconsin: the opioid epidemic.
“We must protect our children and support our schools,” said Senator Smith. “This bill would give staff the tools they need to act quickly in an emergency situation to save lives.”
“Our children are our most important resource, and it is our highest duty to keep them safe in school,” said Representative Emerson. “With this legislation’s passage we can ensure an accidental overdose is a wake-up call instead of a preventable tragedy.”
Too many families have been torn apart by overdoses in our state. Opioid-related fatalities are now the leading cause of death among Wisconsin school-aged children. In 2023, 217 people died each day from opioid overdoses nationwide — more than 22 children every week.
Despite the severity of the crisis, most Wisconsin schools are not required to have opioid-antagonists, such as Narcan, which are proven life-saving drugs that can reverse an overdose if administered quickly. Without it, school staff are often left without the tools they need to respond effectively during an emergency.
The legislation, LRB-6116, provides funds to reimburse the costs associated with supplying opioid-antagonist in every school across Wisconsin, ensuring that educators and staff are prepared to save lives when every second counts.
Senator Smith urges Wisconsinites to call their legislators and ask them to sign on to LRB-6116.
