Alabama students in grades 6-12 will now be receiving mandatory instruction on the dangers of fentanyl, thanks to a new law passed by the Alabama Legislature. Starting this school year, students will be educated on fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness in a manner similar to other drug and alcohol education programs.
The bill, HB 280, was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey in May and requires schools to provide research-based instruction on preventing fentanyl addiction and abuse, as well as awareness of local resources for substance use and abuse. The goal is to educate students on the dangers of fentanyl, a drug that has been linked to a majority of teen overdose deaths in recent years.
Experts have recommended that schools update their drug awareness and prevention programs, stock Naloxone, and promote conversations about the dangers of fentanyl among peers and family members. The new law is part of a broader effort to address the increasing number of children dying from drug exposure and overdose in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other new laws in Alabama will focus on school safety plans, cardiac arrest training, and discipline rules. Implementation dates for these laws vary, but the fentanyl education requirement will begin this school year. Alabama is taking proactive steps to educate students and communities about the dangers of fentanyl and prevent further drug-related deaths among young people.
Source
Photo credit www.al.com