Written by Sienna Monea | Cronkite News
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Education has introduced an initiative aimed at addressing the growing threat of fentanyl in schools.
The School Training Overdose Preparedness and Information Task Force (STOP-IT) works to educate students and school staff and prevent fentanyl-related incidents across the state.
Fentanyl overdoses are a serious problem in Arizona, especially among young people.
“Last year, 70 percent of the pills we seized contained lethal doses,” said Cheri Oz, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Phoenix Field Division. “You took a pill seven times out of ten and you didn’t survive.”
Gustavo Ayala lost his 17-year-old son, Noah Ayala, to a fentanyl overdose in March.
“This is a crisis that knows no boundaries, geographically, economically or demographically. It’s impacting every corner of society, including my family and myself,” Ayala said during a speech at Barry Goldwater High School last month. Speaking during a panel discussion on the fentanyl crisis.
Five people die every day in Arizona from an opioid overdose, according to data collected by the state health department. “It’s not just the victims who die from use, it’s the people who die from handling and transportation, and the people who are caught in the middle of all of that,” Kenneth Sylvia of the Phoenix Police Department said during a panel discussion. Ta.
Due to growing concerns from parents, educators, and students about the threat of fentanyl, the STOP-IT Task Force is working to increase the availability of naloxone to combat overdoses, as well as proactive initiatives such as pamphlets and rallies to educate students. We are intervening to provide schools with appropriate countermeasures.
STOP-IT is also designed as a collaborative approach. Organizations like Terros Health and Mayo Clinic are offering help.
“If we can prevent someone from dying from an overdose, it gives them hope that they can make other choices in the future,” Dr. Vanna Campion, Telos Health’s chief medical officer, said in an interview. “Our involvement is really just to prevent as many overdose-related deaths as possible, educate people about the importance of naloxone, and be part of the solution.”
Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal drug commonly used by first responders and can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies. The task force is supplying schools with the drug and informing school teachers and nurses how to administer it.
Campion said Arizona communities are directly affected because Arizona is a major entry point for drugs into the U.S. Fentanyl deaths in the county, according to Maricopa County The number of deaths has increased 4,900% since 2015, surpassing methamphetamines as the most deadly drug in Arizona. . Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman said during a panel discussion that 63 percent of drug-related deaths in Maricopa County involve fentanyl.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horn also promotes the Sold Out Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides free interactive materials to schools about the dangers of fentanyl and health, wellness and fitness education. . Materials include a fentanyl education curriculum designed for all ages.
In an interview, the foundation’s CEO Romain Gabriel III emphasized the importance of addressing the stigma surrounding fentanyl.
“One of the problems with fear is stigma. Lack of information and misinformation creates fear. What we’ve done is address the biggest problem of spreading the message about fentanyl, and the stigma of talking about it. “We need to overcome this crisis,” Gabriel said, noting that the group is visiting schools across the country, holding meetings and consultations to ensure openness. Communication between students and parents.
