De La Cruz introduces campus safety bill targeting opioid overdoses

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz has introduced a new bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the opioid overdose crisis on college campuses. The proposed legislation, titled the Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2024, mandates that public colleges and universities provide opioid overdose rescue kits, including Narcan (naloxone), to combat the rising number of opioid-related deaths among young adults. Representative Lou Correa is serving as the lead co-sponsor for this initiative.

"Fentanyl is the number one killer of Americans aged 18 to 45," De La Cruz stated. She highlighted a significant increase in fentanyl-related deaths in Texas, which have risen by over 600% from 2019 to 2023, resulting in more than 7,000 fatalities statewide. According to her, "The Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2024 will help ensure that students and staff are equipped to respond effectively to this crisis and prevent further loss of life."

Representative Correa emphasized the impact of the opioid epidemic nationwide. "Here in Orange County and across the country, our communities are being faced with an opioid epidemic that has cost our neighbors the lives of too many they love," he said. Correa noted that young people on campuses are disproportionately affected by fentanyl-related deaths. He expressed his commitment to working with Congresswoman De La Cruz: "This legislation will ensure that our students and their teachers are equipped with the tools they need to respond effectively to this crisis and save lives in real time—and I’m honored to work alongside Congresswoman De La Cruz to help get this effort across the finish line."

The introduction of this bill follows another legislative success for Congresswoman De La Cruz—the Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act—which was signed into law in September. This earlier measure targets financial networks supporting synthetic drugs like fentanyl. Both initiatives reflect her dedication to tackling the fentanyl epidemic through prevention and enforcement strategies aimed at protecting communities and educational institutions.