March 29, 2023
The Honorable Joe Patterson
State Assembly
1021 O St., Suite 4530
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 19 (Patterson)
Dear Assembly Member Patterson:
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to SUPPORT Assembly Bill 19 (Patterson), which requires each school to have no less than two doses of naloxone onsite to aid persons suffering from an opioid overdose.
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.
Assembly Bill 19 is a proactive measure to save the lives of students who have a substance use disorder, or are experimenting with substances, and have overdosed as a result. The increase in substance use, specifically substances adulterated with Fentanyl, has become increasingly alarming and our K-12 schools are not prepared. This bill will make sure they are by requiring at least two doses of naloxone to be available on campus in the event of an overdose. CAYEN works to decrease substance use for TAY and change public policy to reflect restorative justice ideology. In the meantime, it is important to save as many lives as possible until the proper supports and services are in place to reduce youth substance use.
For these reasons, we SUPPORT Assembly Bill 19. If you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.
In Community,
Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network
