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SD 2460

An Act relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira

Massachusetts K-12 schools must include prescription opioid abuse prevention in violence-prevention education, highlighting the epidemic and links to heroin.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 2460

Summary: An Act relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education (Senate Docket No. 2460)

Status: House concurred
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Filed: January 17, 2025
Committee Action: Referred to the Committee on Education (February 27, 2025); House concurred on the same date

Purpose and intent

This bill aims to broaden the scope of preventive education within Massachusetts schools by explicitly including prescription opioid abuse prevention as part of violence prevention education. The underlying goal is to address the prescription drug epidemic and to illuminate the link between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs (notably heroin).

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Section 1 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws (as it appears in the 2022 edition).
  • Adds the following language after the word “violence” in the relevant text:
    “, prescription opioid abuse prevention, with an emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin,”.
  • Effect: Schools would incorporate prescription opioid abuse prevention education within the existing framework of violence prevention education. The amendment emphasizes educating students about the prescription drug epidemic and the connection to downstream illicit opioid use.

Note: The text provided does not specify funding, curricula standards, or a detailed implementation timeline beyond amending the statutory language. Implementation details would typically be guided by the Department of Education and local districts under existing authority.

Who/what is affected

  • Yes: Massachusetts public K-12 schools (districts, administrators, teachers, and students) would be affected insofar as the state statute requires inclusion of prescription opioid abuse prevention education as part of violence prevention content.
  • Broader public health alignment: The change reflects a policy focus on substance misuse prevention within the school environment.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill was introduced and filed on January 17, 2025, as Senate Bill No. 2460.
  • It was referred to the Senate Committee on Education and subsequently moved to the House, where it achieved House concurrence on February 27, 2025.
  • The bill has historical context, with a similar matter previously filed as Senate No. 333 in the 2023-2024 session.

Potential impact

  • Educational impact: Schools would broaden health and safety curricula to explicitly address prescription opioid abuse prevention, including the epidemic’s scope and the link to heroin and other addictions.
  • Public health alignment: Supports early prevention efforts and increased awareness among students, potentially contributing to reduced misuse and better identification of at-risk youth.
  • Implementation considerations: May require development of curricular resources, teacher training, and coordination between schools and local health authorities. No funding or timetable details are included in the current text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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