This petition is born out of a personal tragedy. My cousin Beau passed away on May 6th, 2022, after overdosing six times in one night at GCC. The school was aware of this but never informed my aunt because Beau hadn't previously requested an emergency contact form.

This incident underscores the urgent need for all colleges to send home emergency contact forms and give students and their families the choice to opt-in or out. It's crucial that schools have a system in place to notify families when their loved ones are in danger, especially given the rising rates of drug use among college students.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, around 22% of college students reported illicit drug use in 2018 (source: NIDA). In New York alone, where this issue hits close to home for us, there were over 3,000 overdose deaths involving opioids in 2018 (source: CDC).

By mandating emergency contact forms across all colleges with an opt-in/out option, we can ensure that no family has to endure what Beau's did - being kept in the dark while their loved one was struggling. We call upon lawmakers and educational institutions alike to make this change immediately.

Please sign this petition if you believe that every student's life matters and every family has a right to know when their child is at risk.