A new Texas law aiming to curb teen overdoses from fentanyl poisoning through anti-drug education came into effect on September 1.
HB 3908 mandates that taxpayer-funded public schools teach at least one lesson regarding fentanyl and drug abuse awareness once a year to students in grades 6-12.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the measure was named Tucker’s Law in honor of a 19-year-old who died from fentanyl poisoning after taking a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with the synthetic opioid.
Given the mounting urgency of the fentanyl crisis, the Texas Legislature passed several measures alongside Tucker’s Law, including HB 3144, which made October “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.” Additionally, SB 867 allowed the overdose-reversal drug Narcan to be distributed to colleges and universities in the state, and HB 6 increased criminal penalties for fentanyl-related crimes to first-degree felonies.
Fentanyl is an incredibly potent substance reported to be 50 times more powerful than other opioids. In North Texas, the fentanyl-laced pills sold by criminals are typically blue and labeled “M30” to mimic oxycodone pills, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
Just recently, a man in Garland was arrested for allegedly selling three teenage girls fentanyl, as reported by The Dallas Express. All three girls overdosed and were hospitalized.
In terms of how local ISDs intend to enact anti-drug lessons in schools, several approaches have appeared.
For instance, Waco ISD has rolled out the Stop It app to allow for anonymous reporting of drug use.
“Our nurses are already trained on the use of Narcan,” explained Wendy Sledd, Waco ISD’s communications coordinator, according to WFAA. “We also do multiple events throughout the year like Red Ribbon Week.”
Other ISDs, such as Bryan ISD, are waiting for directives from the state.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, some experts have advocated for schools’ new anti-drug curricula to focus on drug education, awareness building, and mental health.
“Kids have to understand why they are buying pills in the first place,” explained Kathleen Hassenfratz, a licensed professional counselor, according to The Texas Tribune.
In Dallas, as of September 1, there have been 6,882 drug-related criminal offenses reported this year, according to the City of Dallas Open Data crime overview dashboard. Such crimes increased by 6.4% compared to the same period last year.
The increase in drug offenses has coincided with an ongoing police shortage at the Dallas Police Department. A City report advises that DPD needs around 4,000 officers. However, it has only managed to maintain a force of around 3,100.
