Assessing State-Level Opioid Safety Laws, Regulations, and Guidance in K-12 Education

In 2022, an average of 22 adolescents (ages 14-18) in the United States died each week from drug overdoses, primarily due to fentanyl-laced pills.

The opioid crisis has profoundly affected communities across the country, placing schools on the front lines. This interactive tool examines how comprehensively each state implements laws and regulations to address opioid safety and response in K-12 schools.

Using state-by-state data, it assesses legislation and regulations on naloxone access, opioid education, training, and emergency response protocols, among other indicators, providing an objective measure of each state’s regulatory framework for opioid overdose response at the K-12 level.

Map of the United States showing each state's regulatory density score for K-12 opioid safety policies. States are color-coded on a red-to-blue scale, with red indicating lower scores and blue indicating higher scores.

  • Schools play a key role in opioid safety by educating students, training staff, implementing prevention programs, and being prepared to respond to emergencies. This includes stocking naloxone, a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses by restoring normal breathing.

    By incorporating naloxone into their emergency response protocols, schools enhance their preparedness to address opioid-related incidents, contributing to the broader effort to combat the opioid epidemic and safeguard student health. ​

  • This tool is designed for state, district, and school leaders, policymakers, and researchers who seek a comprehensive understanding of how different U.S. states are addressing opioid safety in schools.

    • State, District, & School Leaders:

      • Inform decision-making on local opioid response strategies.

      • Compare policies across states.

      • Advocate for necessary changes to protect students.

    • Policymakers: 

      • Assess the regulatory landscape and identify gaps in state-level opioid policies.

      • Develop evidence-based legislative solutions.

    • Researchers: 

      • Analyze trends and evaluate regulatory density.

      • Consider potential correlations between opioid laws and regulations and public health outcomes in school settings.

    • Families

      • Understand state and local policies affecting opioid safety in schools.

      • Advocate for the inclusion of naloxone, overdose response protocols, and staff training in their children’s schools.

  • Each state is evaluated based on the density and comprehensiveness of its opioid-related school laws, regulations, and guidance. A higher score indicates a more robust regulatory framework. Learn more about our methodology.

    Note: A more robust regulatory framework does not necessarily lead to improved health outcomes. This platform is intended to help stakeholders examine how these laws, regulations, and guidelines may influence health outcomes. View the full dataset.

  • To interpret the state-level scores and visualizations accurately, it’s important to understand how each policy category is defined. This glossary outlines the key terms used in our analysis of opioid-related laws, regulations, and guidance affecting K-12 schools.

    • Statewide K-12 School-Specific Opioid Law - The law explicitly addresses opioid-related policies, such as naloxone access, overdose response, or substance use prevention, specifically for K-12 schools.

    • General Statewide Opioid Law - The law that regulates opioid access, naloxone distribution, or opioid prevention, but does not explicitly mention schools

    • Law Specifically Covers Naloxone in Schools - The law explicitly includes K-12 schools, allowing or requiring naloxone use in educational settings.

    • Naloxone Allowed in Schools Under General Statewide Law - That law allows schools to stock and administer naloxone without specific legal mandates.

    • Bystander immunity clause in Statewide Law (General or School Specific) - The law provides essential immunity to individuals who offer voluntary assistance in emergency situations.

    • Law Mandates Naloxone in K-12 Schools - The law explicitly requires schools to stock naloxone and have it available for emergency use.

    • Law Requires Naloxone Training for K-12 School Staff - The law mandates naloxone administration training for school personnel, ensuring they are prepared to respond to an overdose.

    • Funding Exists for Naloxone Training of K-12 School Staff - State-provided funding for naloxone training to ensure schools can implement overdose response programs without financial burden.

    • Regulatory guidance from State Department of Education - Official supplemental guidance from the state’s Department of Education regarding naloxone use, overdose response, and opioid prevention policies in schools.

    • Regulatory guidance from the State Department of Health - Official supplemental guidance from the state’s Department of Health regarding naloxone use, overdose response, and opioid prevention policies in schools.

  • 1. Explore Individual States
    Click on a state to view:

    • A summary of laws, regulations and guidance related to opioid safety in K-12 schools.

    • Links to adopted laws, regulations and guidance. 

    Tip: Click outside the map to clear individual state selection.


    2. View States by Regulatory Variable
    Use the ‘Show states with the following’ filter to view states by regulatory variable such as:

    • Naloxone availability in schools

    • Mandated naloxone training for staff

    • State funding for naloxone or training

    • Bystander immunity clauses

    • State Department of Education or Department of Health guidance

    • Mandated stocking of naloxone in schools

    Tip: Select multiple variables to narrow results and view only states with all selected laws, regulations, and guidelines adopted.


    3. Compare Two States
    Use the ‘See side-by-side state comparison’ filter to to compare states:

    • Select a state from each dropdown menu.

    • Review the comparison table to see each state’s laws, regulations, and guidelines adopted and not adopted. 

    Tip: Click "‘Return to map’ to return to map view.

    4. Filter States by Regulatory Density

    • Use the ‘Filter by Regulatory Density Score’ to understand the level of Regulatory Density across states at a glance.

    Tip: To clear all selections and view every state, click outside the map, set the slider to 0-100, and select “All” in the state filter.

  • ​We engaged in a comprehensive landscape analysis of state laws, regulations, and guidance regarding naloxone use in schools in response to overdoses. This analysis encompasses a detailed examination across all states, focusing on the authorization, accessibility, and implementation of naloxone within educational settings.

    Recognizing the dynamic nature of this policy landscape, we are committed to updating this data quarterly to ensure stakeholders have access to the most current information.

  • Opportunity Labs is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization working to promote youth thriving. 

    This work was funded by the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts, a national grantmaking foundation committed to advancing patient-centered, innovative, evidence-based solutions.