haheen, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Youth Opioid Use and Overdoses

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, are today introducing the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to strengthen efforts to address the substance use disorder crisis that is impacting communities across the nation. The bipartisan bill would help prevent youth opioid use and overdoses by establishing a new grant program that allows current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to provide resources educating students about the dangers of synthetic opioids. 

“Our bipartisan bill will help save lives by educating students and young people across the country about the dangers of synthetic opioids,” said Shaheen. “We’ve made progress in recent years to stem the substance use epidemic, but there’s more we can and should do to ensure kids know just how deadly opioids can be. Our bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act would help do just that.” 

“Stamping out drug abuse in our communities and schools demands an all-hands approach. One piece of the puzzle is supporting drug prevention programs that educate young people about synthetic opioids and preventable resources,” Grassley said. “I’m glad to support this vital and fiscally responsible bill to protect our next generation from the dangers of addiction.” 

The Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act would authorize $7 million per year for five years for a new grant program eligible to DFC grantees and other qualifying DFCs. The bipartisan bill allows DFC grantees to apply for additional funding to partner with schools to plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive school-based substance use prevention programing.   

Shaheen has spearheaded crucial legislation and funding to stem the opioid epidemic, including through her leadership on the pivotal U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds the U.S. Department of Justice. Shaheen has also worked to increase access to substance use treatment in New Hampshire. Last year, Shaheen led the state’s congressional delegation in fighting for $29,880,604 in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants directed to New Hampshire. Shaheen fought to secure this investment in the government funding legislation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 that was signed into law. Additionally, the Shaheen-led State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act increased funding and provided critical flexibilities for states administering SOR spending. In recent years, Shaheen successfully pushed the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain SOR funding levels for New Hampshire and avoid significant cliffs in funding year-over-year. Shaheen's efforts have led to a more than tenfold increase in federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire.   

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