OLYMPIA— A bill introduced in the Senate today would increase available doses of potentially life-saving NARCAN opioid overdose blockers in schools. Current statute mandates only school districts with over 2000 enrolled students carry a single dose. The new legislation would broaden the regulation to include all districts within the state.
Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5804, said, “It is our moral imperative to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our students. Especially those who struggle with difficult life circumstances. This bill helps us ensure schools have their bases covered with NARCAN at the ready. This, obviously, is something I think we all wish we will never have to use. But this is an opportunity for adults to stay prepared and to save the lives of children.”
SB 5804 comes at a time when high-school-aged kids are experiencing a climb in overdose rates compared to adults — a nearly threefold increase since 2019. Under this bill every school is required to have one dose prepared. A two-dose bottle costs about $50. Today’s bill hearing in the Senate welcomed students from Lake Washington High School who testified to the dire need for the legislation.
