Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) | house.gov
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) | house.gov
Following the initiative of President Biden's letter to schools about carrying naloxone, Representative Buddy Carter has reinforced this call by focusing on the crucial role his Saving Lives in Schools Act plays. This legislative initiative champions the presence of naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, in educational institutions with a goal to tackle the fentanyl crisis and enhance the probability of saving lives within school premises.
"Carter bill to put naloxone in schools inspires federal guidance", was stated.
In a press release by Representative Carter's office, Rep. Carter conveyed his views on this issue: "This week, the Biden administration sent a letter urging schools to carry naloxone, an overdose reversal drug, to protect students from fentanyl poisonings and opioid overdoses," said Carter. "As a pharmacist, I was glad to see our president finally taking some action on the fentanyl crisis, which is killing almost 200 people per day in this country."
He further emphasized how grave the situation is by drawing an analogy: "If a plane crashed today and killed 200 people, we would immediately ground all flights until we discovered the cause. A letter would not be enough," added Carter. He also highlighted that there needs to be more resolute actions towards solving this crisis which is claiming lives across every state.
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported that these naloxone kits must be easily accessible and stored visibly alongside automated external defibrillators (AEDs), with usage documented by school resource officers or nurses.
Georgia Public Broadcasting reported that opioid-related overdose deaths in Georgia escalated by 101% from 853 in 2019 to 1,718 in 2021 according to data released by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The U.S Drug Enforcement Administration issued a public safety alert stating that China continues as the primary source for precursor chemicals for fentanyl production which are subsequently processed and trafficked by Mexico-based cartels like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation.
Rep. Carter, during an interview with Newsmax, accentuated the two-fold challenges posed by the influx of fentanyl from southern borders and its prevalent use within the United States. He advocated for wider accessibility to naloxone, which he carries himself as a safety measure, and argued for its presence in medicine cabinets and emergency boxes nationwide.
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