How a friend's death turned Colorado teens into anti-overdose activists

Gavinn McKinney, a teenager from Durango, Colorado, tragically passed away from fentanyl poisoning in December 2021. McKinney’s friends and peers are now advocating for a bill that would allow students to carry naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, without fear of disciplinary action or confiscation. The bill aims to address the strict medication policies in Colorado schools that prevent students from carrying emergency medications. If passed, this bill would make Colorado one of the few states with statewide legislation on student access to naloxone. Students hope that this bill will help prevent future overdose deaths among their peers.