Support for AB 602, California’s Campus Overdose Prevention Act

SSDP is submitting a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office urging him to sign AB 602, the Campus Overdose Prevention Act. The bill will protect students from receiving disciplinary action when they call for assistance or are victims of an overdose-related incident. Shifting campus responses from punishment to health-centered approaches through counseling, education, and treatment options ensures students can prioritize their safety without jeopardizing their educational prospects. Removing these academic barriers will save lives. The letter is available below.

You can express your support for the Campus Overdose Prevention Act by filling out our Action Alert.

AB 602 language can be found HERE.

Letter to Governor Newsom’s Office

“Dear Governor Newsom,

On behalf of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest youth-led organization dedicated to advancing sensible and just drug policies, we write to express our strong support for California Assembly Bill 602, the Campus Overdose Prevention Act. AB 602 has passed both houses of the CA State Assembly and requires your signature to be implemented.

AB 602 ensures that students at California public colleges and universities will not face disciplinary actions against them for utilizing 911 and other medical assistance during an overdose-related emergency. Current campus policies leave students vulnerable to suspension for saving lives and discourage help-seeking behaviors, perpetuate stigma, and increase the risk of preventable deaths for those who need the greatest assistance. 

AB 602 moves California towards health-centered approaches by requiring these public schools to offer rehabilitation services through counseling, drug education, and treatment programs for those struggling with substance use. This bill provides the necessary opportunities for students to improve their lives and continue their educational prospects. 

SSDP believes that your leadership is grounded in compassion and evidence-based health policy. By signing AB 602, you empower students and staff to respond without hesitation in overdose-related instances, ensuring that saving lives does not cost a student’s educational future. 

Thank you for considering support for AB 602, and for your commitment to public health and the well-being of all California residents.”