Opioid-related drug overdose deaths in Washington have risen dramatically, particularly among young people. This surge is largely attributed to the increase of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, in the illegal drug supply. More than 70% of overdose deaths in Washington involve fentanyl. 

While most teenagers are not knowingly experimenting with opioids, including fentanyl, certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of experimentation with opioids, including mental health challenges (such as anxiety or depression), pain/injury, and social pressure. In addition, illicit fentanyl is commonly pressed into fake prescription pills that are designed to resemble real ones and sold on social media. Many youth who encounter fentanyl do so by mistake, thinking they took a real prescription pill instead of a counterfeit. 

To combat the growing concern about opioid misuse among young people in our state, Washington state legislature directed the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Washington Department of Health to deploy statewide substance use prevention campaigns and opioid instructional materials. The instructional materials are intended to be used by the public education system to actively incorporate campaign messages and materials in classrooms, as well as in family and community communications. 

Educational Service District 112’s Prevent Coalition (Prevent) serves as a key partner to school districts seeking to provide safe, supportive, and drug-free learning environments. To support schools in providing classroom education about opioids and illicit fentanyl, Prevent is offering a training for educators in southwest Washington on Washington Healthcare Authority’s Friends for Life campaign. Friends for Life is a statewide effort to inform teens, young adults, and parents/caregivers about the risks of fentanyl and the power of naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses. Included with the campaign are presentations and activities recommended by OSPI for use in middle and high school classrooms. 

During this time, it is critical to focus on measures to prevent youth substance use. Please join us to learn about the development of the Friends for Life campaign, recommended best practices for use in schools, and a demonstration of classroom content. 

Note: While educators are welcome to attend either session, the demonstration on April 23 will utilize middle school curriculum and materials and the demonstration on April 28 will use high school curriculum and materials. The trainings will also be recorded and available upon request, however clock hours will only be provided during the live session.