"Laken's Law," a bill in West Virginia that would make it mandatory to teach students about drug prevention, has passed the House.
House Bill 5540, also known as “Laken’s Law,” passed the full House by a unanimous vote on Feb. 20. The measure would require annual education about the health dangers of substance abuse, the available resources, and organizations working to prevent and reduce youth substance use, the specific dangers of fentanyl, heroin and opioids as well as the use of naloxone or other opioid reversal drugs.
Delegate Jeff Stephens from Marshall County proudly sponsored a bill to require specific drug prevention and awareness education in honor of a constituent who lost a daughter to an accidental fentanyl overdose.
Stephens, a public school teacher, said it’s imperative to put the message in front of students early.
“I see hundreds of kids each day, and these opioids and other drugs are completely destroying families and whole communities,” Stephens said. “Being proactive instead of reactive in battling this drug epidemic is how we can help turn the tide.”
Laken’s Law would require annual instruction in all public school grades six through 12 starting with the 2024-2025 school year.
“This crisis did not overtake our communities overnight,” Stephens said. “It’s going to take more than just targeting dollars and doctors to change the culture these opioids have created.”
This measure now goes to the West Virginia Senate for debate.
The regular legislative session ends Saturday, March 9.
(Video in the story shows the top stories for Wednesday, February 21, 2024)
