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Across the United States, overdose is now the third leading cause of death for individuals under age 18. Between 2019 and 2021, monthly youth overdose deaths more than doubled, contributing to more than 107,000 deaths nationally in 2023, most linked to illicit synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Although deaths declined 27% in 2024, progress remains fragile. New national surveys indicate that more than 1 in 10 U.S. adults used synthetic opioids in 2024. This is up sharply from 0.3% just two years earlier.

Youth remain on the front lines, with over 20% of high school students reporting drug exposure on school campuses. Yet preparedness lags: while 37 states reference school-based overdose management in statute, only 13 require schools to stock naloxone and just 7 mandate student opioid education. For sheriffs and law enforcement leaders, this crisis is operational and often personal. Deputies are often first to respond to 911 calls from school campuses and frequently serve as embedded School Resource Officers.

This session highlights the evolving multi-phase national RESPONSE Campaign, built on cross-sector collaboration and high-impact partnerships across education, medicine, and government. Drawing from Arizona’s statewide model STOP-IT model, presenters will evaluate emerging practical tools including sample statewide legislation for elective adaptation, model school overdose response policies, low-cost naloxone access pathways, statewide reporting and recording tools and staff/student training curricula options. Participants will evaluate their own state’s landscape and leave with actionable strategies to strengthen school overdose preparedness, prevention, and policy leadership in their jurisdictions.

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