A bill aimed at preventing fentanyl overdoses in schools is now awaiting a decision from Governor Gavin Newsom. Lawmakers and the mother of Melanie Ramos, the child after whom the bill is named, gathered in the South Bay to urge the governor to sign it into law.
In Santa Clara County, every school district already has access to Narcan, a fast-acting nasal spray that can reverse the effects of opioid and fentanyl overdoses. Senate Bill 10, also known as Melanie’s Law, passed unanimously last week and would make Narcan available in every middle and high school across the state.
Senator Dave Cortese emphasized that Santa Clara County serves as a model for the rest of the state. Melanie’s Law is named after Melanie Ramos, a 15-year-old who tragically died from a suspected fentanyl overdose at her high school in Hollywood last year after unknowingly taking a pill containing fentanyl.
The bill addresses the alarming issue of pills and powders laced with deadly fentanyl, often bought online or from classmates. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez stressed the urgency of the situation.
Elena Perez, Melanie Ramos’s mother, expressed her support for the bill and urged the governor to sign it in memory of her daughter.
Cortese highlighted that fentanyl is now responsible for one in five youth deaths in California. Melanie’s Law not only widens access to Narcan in schools but also mandates that schools provide training to all employees on how to prevent and respond to fentanyl overdoses.
Cortese emphasized the need for a consistent approach across all school districts, ensuring that every district is prepared to address this critical issue.
The Santa Clara County’s Office of Education reported that Narcan has already been used up to a dozen times in its schools, underscoring the importance of having this life-saving medication readily available.
Governor Newsom has until mid-October to make a decision regarding Melanie’s Law.