Congress Introduces Bill for Fentanyl Awareness Curriculum in US Schools
In an effort to combat the rising wave of fentanyl-related deaths across the United States, Congress has introduced a bill that aims to implement a fentanyl awareness curriculum in schools. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, seeks to allocate $50 million in federal funding for school districts to create their own curriculum or adopt existing ones, such as the Fake and Fatal curriculum developed by the Beaverton School District in Oregon.
Fentanyl, a highly potent and addictive opioid, has become increasingly popular among drug users due to its low cost and availability. The consequences have been devastating, with hundreds of Oregonians losing their lives to fentanyl overdoses each year. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Bonamici stresses the need to disseminate life-saving information about fentanyl to students as quickly as possible.
The proposed bill would initiate a three-year pilot program, providing $50 million for school districts to collaborate with their public health departments in designing and implementing a fentanyl awareness curriculum. The funding would also support public awareness campaigns, workshops, and training for staff members. Importantly, the awareness campaign would not only focus on avoiding drug dealers but also address the issue of fentanyl being disguised as legitimate medication, often bought through social media platforms and even delivered directly to victims’ homes.
The inspiration behind the bill stems from the tragic death of Cal Epstein, a former student in the Beaverton School District who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2020. Mistaking a fake blue pill for OxyContin, Epstein inadvertently consumed fentanyl, which is more than 100 times stronger than morphine. His parents, Jon and Jennifer Epstein, have been advocating for a fentanyl awareness curriculum ever since, emphasizing the potential to save lives and spare other families from the devastating loss they experienced.
The fentanyl crisis is not isolated to Oregon alone. Two students from McDaniel High School in Portland died from fentanyl-related incidents in 2022, and earlier this year, a teenager from Franklin High died from a suspected fentanyl overdose. The state of Oregon has been grappling with an opioid crisis, with alarming numbers of deaths attributed to fentanyl. The opioid crisis claimed the lives of 280 Oregonians in 2019, 472 in 2020, and a staggering 745 in 2021.
While the Beaverton School District took the first step in creating a fentanyl awareness curriculum, the efforts have expanded statewide. Recently, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 238, which mandates the development of educational materials by the Oregon Health Authority, Board of Education, and Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to educate schoolchildren about the dangers of opioids. Bonamici’s bill aims to give districts the flexibility to customize their own curriculum or adapt existing ones to meet their specific needs.
The proposed legislation seeks to address the fentanyl crisis from a comprehensive standpoint, empowering schools and communities to educate students about the dangers of this lethal drug. By providing federal funding and support, Congress hopes to save countless lives and prevent further tragedies caused by fentanyl overdoses. As the bill progresses, it is expected to receive bipartisan support, demonstrating the urgency and bipartisan consensus for tackling this pressing issue in the United States.
