AB 2174 Summary

• Establishes the "Heroin and Opioid Public Education (HOPE)" program to be implemented by the State Department of Public Health upon legislative appropriation or receipt of state or federal grant funding, operating until January 1, 2023.

• Requires HOPE to develop and oversee a comprehensive multicultural public awareness campaign using multiple media types (television, radio, internet, social media, print) to disseminate information about heroin and opioid addiction to diverse audiences.

• Campaign must address topics including pathways to opioid abuse, warning signs of addiction, naloxone availability and use, substance abuse treatment benefits, medication-assisted therapy, safe medication disposal, and resources for seeking help.

• Information must be tailored to different target audiences (at-risk individuals, family members, friends, medical practitioners, teachers, employers) and disseminated using culturally and linguistically appropriate means.

• Department must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature assessing the program's effectiveness, including impacts on addiction rates, hospitalization, crime, and death rates, with recommendations for legislative or executive action.