Too many young lives have been lost to the opioid crisis — but we now have the tools to prevent some of the worst outcomes. A new bill in the Pennsylvania Senate could help schools save lives by requiring every high school in the state to carry naloxone, a proven medication that reverses opioid overdoses in minutes.

Introduced by State Senators Christine Tartaglione and Nikil Saval and inspired by student advocates from the University of Pennsylvania, this legislation would make Pennsylvania one of the few states in the nation to mandate naloxone access in high schools — public and private, urban and rural. The goal is simple but urgent: ensure that if a student, staff member, or visitor experiences an overdose, trained volunteers in the school community have access to the medication that can bring them back.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about preventing preventable deaths. With fentanyl contamination on the rise, the risk of accidental overdose extends far beyond those struggling with addiction. Even one life saved is worth it.

The legislation doesn’t require teachers or school staff to administer naloxone unless they volunteer — and yet it gives schools the option to be prepared. Just like we keep defibrillators and first-aid kits for cardiac or medical emergencies, we must be ready to respond to the crisis our youth are living through today.

Senator Tartaglione, herself in long-term recovery, put it best: “If we could save one life, it’s worth it.”

We agree — and so do thousands of families, educators, and recovery advocates across the Commonwealth.

Sign this petition to show your support for this life-saving legislation. Demand that the Pennsylvania Senate advance this bill and make sure every high school has the tools to save a life.

Photo: Elizabeth Robertson/Philadelphia Inquirer