OLYMPIA, Wash. — When it comes to fentanyl, one pill can kill, and the Drug Enforcement Administration says seven out of every 10 pills sold to children are laced with fentanyl.
In Washington, the overdose epidemic has reached crisis point. Opioid death rates for children ages 14 to 18 nearly tripled from 2016 to 2022, according to a report from the state Department of Health.
Now, Washington state lawmakers are asking the state's school system for help in raising awareness about fentanyl and its deceptive nature.
“The bottom line is that too many young people are dying,” said Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane.
House Bill 1956, which aims to create an educational partnership to raise awareness about the drug, has formally passed the House unanimously.
“This is an easy way to ensure that young people and the public have the information they need about the opioid epidemic,” Riccelli added.
With the full support of the House of Representatives, this bill will now be introduced in the Senate.
“Things are moving forward,” said a Mount Vernon mother whose son died from counterfeit drugs laced with fentanyl.
HB 1956 would add opioids to the list of drugs included in middle and high school classroom instruction, mandate distribution of updated drug prevention and awareness classroom materials, and require DOH to conduct a statewide awareness campaign was.
In doing so, the law also aims to provide information to parents.
“I didn't know anything about fentanyl or fake drugs,” Schweigert said.
Sadly, for Schweigert, this bill came too late.
“I hope he's proud,” she said. “I feel like I didn't have a choice in this fight. It's like the fight chose me.”
Mr. Schweigert tragically lost his son, Trey, about six years ago.
“That was the biggest shock,” Schweigert said.
Tragedy occurred after he swallowed fake Percocet while recovering from a broken leg.
Since then, Schweigert has made it his life's mission to advocate for fentanyl awareness across the state. She said she believes young people are especially vulnerable to fentanyl deception.
“The fact that something is even harmful enough to actually kill them or their friends is not something they can really fully understand at the age of a child or elementary school student, just as death itself is a very foreign concept to them.” I’m an adult,” she said.
Schweigert believes fentanyl education should be mandatory in public schools to prevent this epidemic from tearing more families apart.
According to the DEA, just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can cause death.
Along with a public awareness campaign, the Department of Health estimates that HB 1956 will cost more than $3 million annually, which it says is consistent with similar campaigns in the past.
The Office of Public Instruction's classroom materials costs are expected to be $334,000 in fiscal year 2025 and nearly $200,000 annually thereafter.
There is a companion bill in the Senate, but it is still in committee.
