As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate Washington and the rest of the country, officials are turning their attention to schools in an effort to combat youth overdoses and addiction. In a bid to address the issue, the Washington Department of Health is providing opioid overdose reversal medication, known as naloxone or Narcan, to every public high school in the state. Governor Jay Inslee has also called on the Legislature to pass a bill mandating education on opioids in schools. Furthermore, following a request from students at Lake Washington High School, Senator Patty Kuderer has introduced a bill that would require all public school districts to keep naloxone readily accessible in high schools.
Undoubtedly, Washington has witnessed a staggering uptick in opioid overdose deaths among young people, particularly due to the proliferation of fentanyl, a cheap and highly potent drug. The state’s Department of Health reports that rates of opioid-related fatalities among adolescents ages 14 to 18 have nearly tripled from 2016 to 2022, with fentanyl being a significant contributing factor.
Alarming statistics reveal that in 2022 alone, at least 31 adolescents ages 10 to 17 and 157 individuals ages 18 to 24 succumbed to opioid overdoses in Washington, according to data from the Department of Health.
The state’s proactive measures align with a letter issued by the U.S. Department of Education and the White House drug policy office in October 2023, which urged schools to educate students about the opioid crisis and ensure naloxone availability.
Nationwide, research indicates that approximately 22 high school-aged adolescents succumbed to overdoses each week in 2022, primarily due to the consumption of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills. Experts note that teenagers often remain oblivious to the prevalence of fentanyl-contaminated drugs in the market.
During a recent committee hearing, legislators were moved by emotional testimony from Maria Trujillo-Petty, who tragically lost her 16-year-old son, Lucas Petty, to a fentanyl overdose in 2022. Trujillo-Petty, a mother of four, remarked that high school is a period when youths feel invincible, underscoring the importance of comprehensive education and support to mitigate the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic.
Senate Bill 5923, dubbed the opioid education bill, demands that schools deliver opioid and fentanyl-use prevention education to all seventh and ninth grade students at least once a year. Additionally, the bill stipulates that substance-use prevention must be incorporated into health and physical education learning standards for middle and high schools by the 2024-2025 academic year.
A wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of the Governor, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, educator groups, and students from Oak Harbor High School, expressed their support for the bill during the hearing.
While public sentiment overwhelmingly favors opioid education in schools, the Washington Association for Substance Misuse and Violence Prevention raised concerns and called for the involvement of local community providers in the curriculum proposed by the bill.
Although some districts have endeavored to educate students about fentanyl, Senate Bill 5923 presents the first formal statewide requirement for fentanyl and opioid education in Washington schools. A 2019 law already mandates school districts with 2,000 or more students to possess at least one naloxone kit in each high school. However, students from Lake Washington High School emphasized the need for Senate Bill 5804, which would necessitate naloxone availability in high schools of all sizes.
Theodore Meek, a student at Lake Washington High School, pointed out that over half of the state’s districts have fewer than 2,000 students, encompassing tens of thousands of Washington’s students. Senior Sophia Lymberis, also from Lake Washington High School, named specific high school students who have tragically lost their lives to drug overdoses.
Lymberis emphasized, Whenever a student has an overdose, more than just one person is impacted. Students, parents, teachers, and administration all experience the collective trauma that comes with witnessing an overdose. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, she added, As a state, it is inexcusable that we have the resources to give children another chance at life, but do not yet have the legislation to ensure that our students — my classmates — are protected.
First responders and police officers joined in supporting the bill with the naloxone requirement for schools, and no one testified against the legislation during the hearing.
Reports indicate that during the 2022-2023 school year, there were at least 42 instances of naloxone utilization in schools.
The availability and accessibility of naloxone have increasingly been regarded as crucial harm reduction strategies. In August, the Food and Drug Administration permitted over-the-counter use of naloxone, which can now be purchased in drugstores for as low as approximately $50 for two doses.
In April, the state Health Care Authority launched the Friends for Life campaign, aimed at encouraging young adults and teenagers to carry naloxone while providing training on its administration.
As Washington takes significant steps to address the opioid crisis through education and naloxone distribution in schools, the hope is that these measures will contribute to stemming the tide of youth overdoses and addiction. With the devastating impact of fentanyl and other opioids on communities, early prevention and intervention are seen as critical to saving lives and protecting the well-being of future generations.
