This week, citing the growing incidents of Fentanyl deaths and overdoses among Arizona school-aged children, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced an initiative to supply schools with the anti-overdose drug Narcan and the creation of a statewide task force to address this growing crisis.
Horne has also endorsed an effort to get free anti-drug awareness materials into all Arizona schools.
Among all age groups, Arizona recorded more than 1800 opioid-related deaths and more than 4000 overdoses in 2023.
The School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce, (STOPIT), is being formed and will include representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders. Among the first organizations to lend their support are Terros Health and the Mayo Clinic.
Horne also supports the work of the Sold Out Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides interactive online materials warning of the dangers of illegal drugs, proven Accredited Fentanyl Education Curriculum and online platform and promoting health and wellness and fitness education. These materials are provided at no cost to schools.
“Sadly, overdoses are a reality for school-aged children throughout Arizona,” said Horne. “Fentanyl can kill students within minutes of an overdose. It is vitally important that all schools have Narcan available to help save student lives if it should happen on campus. With the establishment of the STOPIT task force, we will work to get Narcan into schools and assist with training for its use. I am also endorsing the work of The Sold Out Youth Foundation, which has excellent resources to address this ongoing crisis.”
“There has never been a greater need to prepare the next generation with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat the opioid epidemic. With more than 50 percent of U.S. fentanyl being trafficked directly through our state, we are ground zero,” said Dr. Holly Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. “It’s time to bring solutions as big as the problem to the table. This taskforce has assembled a wide array of proven thought leaders whose collective expertise can and will change the landscape of our state’s opioid overdose trends.”
“Terros Health is honored to join the STOPIT task force,” said Dr. Karen Hoffman Tepper, president and CEO of Terros Health. “Too many young people are being impacted by the harmful effects of fentanyl. Our team has been on the front lines, educating thousands of Arizonians on when and how to use Narcan and we have seen it save lives. We look forward to working collaboratively to make this life-saving tool available in every school and community.”
“Sold Out is committed to partnering with K-12 public schools attacking our countries current youth drug, alcohol, and mental health crisis,” Sold Out President Roman Gabriel III said. “The SOYF Program is saving lives by equipping school staff, parents and students with a comprehensive program that includes a PLA Accredited Fentanyl Education Platform. The emphasis is on education and awareness for parents and students to understand the grave dangers that this deadly poison poses, and in turn saving lives.”
“The American Medical Association reports that overdose deaths nationally among adolescents has doubled since 2019,” concluded Horne. “Fentanyl is responsible for more than three-quarters of those deaths and Arizona is not immune from this scourge. The rise of illicit fentanyl and its trafficking via social media is having a disproportionate impact on our children. This is a tragedy beyond words, it shows no sign of abating and schools are a vital resource to educate children on these dangers.”