Public schools should help teens with substance abuse disorder before they possibly jeopardize their future permanently. It is a known fact that overdoses are rising at a dramatic rate because of fentanyl found in illicit drugs. Our fear is that this will soon be affecting our middle and high schools.

We’re asking MA State Legislators to introduce a bill that requires schools to give students who are caught using substances both mental health and addiction counseling rather than a disciplinary punishment.

This petition was created out of empathy and self-experience. We have friends being pressured into using substances and know many teens addicted to nicotine and other dangerous substances. When students are caught using substances they often get punished with a disciplinary punishment. Instead, we believe that all schools should provide mental health counseling and addiction treatment for them.