OHIO — Recent data show fentanyl is involved in many unintentional deaths from drug overdoses, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

While experts say it can affect all age groups, state lawmakers are now trying to add an extra layer of protection in schools.

State Representative and assistant minority leader Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and State Representative Josh Williams, R- Sylvania Twp., are now sponsoring a bill targeting drug overdoses in schools.

“House Bill 57 is a bill that would allow when there are school districts that permit naloxone on their campuses to create a process, policy and procedures to disperse in naloxone if, when there is an overdose emergency,” Jarrells said.

Naloxone is one medication often used to reverse an overdose.

The bill would also allow nonprofits to donate the reversal overdose medication, or the money for it, to schools that use it.

But there’s another big change in the bill that would alert officials if there was an overdose on school premises.

“When there is an overdose on campus, or on school grounds, it would notify not just parents, because I think that’s incredibly important, but also it would notify our leaders at the Ohio Department of Education Workforce along with the community broadly,” Jarrells said. “Our young people are getting ahold of drugs that they think are safe, but they could be, unfortunately, cut with fentanyl, and we know it takes one little grain of fentanyl that could very well cause an overdose in anybody.”

Jarrells said one reason for this provision that would notify officials is to make the community aware if there’s a batch of drugs with fentanyl in it.

Angela Hartley is the chief development officer for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and she has testified in favor of the bill.

She said time is of the essence for situations like handling an overdose.

“We do support families in medical crises and wherever there’s an opportunity for us to advocate for better outcomes for patients and children in the Ohio area, that’s where we want to help step in and help,” Hartley said. “The bill allows immediate resources to teachers and administrators to help students in an event of a crisis.”

The bill is now circulating the statehouse, getting proponent hearings.

Next would be to hear from any opponents.

But Jarrells said he’s not seen any opposition just yet and hopes the bill will soon get a vote in the house.

“I know that this bill can save lives,” Jarrells said. “And I know my joint sponsor, Representative Williams, believes that this bill can save lives, and what we’re just trying to do is arm communities and schools with the tools.”