AZ Department of Ed Unveils STOP-IT Task Force to Combat Fentanyl Threats

Arizona’s Department of Education has launched an initiative to combat the escalating threat of fentanyl in schools. Known as the School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce (STOP-IT), this program aims to educate students, staff, and communities on the dangers of fentanyl and to implement preventative measures across the state.

The rise of fentanyl overdoses has become alarming, especially among youth. “Last year, 70% of the pills that we seized contained a lethal dose,” said Cheri Oz, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Phoenix Field Division. “You had a seven out of 10 chance of taking a pill … for the very first time and not surviving,” she warned.

The personal toll of this crisis became evident when Gustavo Ayala shared the tragic loss of his 17-year-old son, Noah, to a fentanyl overdose. “This is a crisis that knows no boundaries, geographic, economic or demographic. It has affected families and every corner of society, including my own,” he stated during a recent panel discussion at Barry Goldwater High School.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, approximately five individuals die each day from opioid overdoses. In response to rising alarm from parents and educators about fentanyl, the STOP-IT Task Force is equipping schools with essential tools, including naloxone to address potential overdoses, informational pamphlets, and educational assemblies.

This initiative promotes collaboration, enlisting support from organizations such as Terros Health and the Mayo Clinic. “If you’re able to prevent an overdose-related death, then there’s hope for the future for that person to be able to make different choices,” said Dr. Vanna Campion, chief medical officer of Terros Health. She emphasized the mission to minimize overdose-related fatalities while raising awareness about the importance of naloxone.

Naloxone, a medication designed to reverse opioid overdoses, is readily available at pharmacies. The task force is ensuring that schools are supplied with this lifesaving medicine and is also educating teachers and nurses on how to administer it effectively.

Fentanyl’s devastating impact is stark; Maricopa County has seen a staggering 4,900% increase in fentanyl-related deaths since 2015. It now accounts for 63% of all drug-related fatalities in the county, according to Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman.

In addition to STOP-IT, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has endorsed the Sold Out Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing schools with free interactive materials focused on fentanyl awareness, health, and wellness. The curriculum aims to educate students of all ages about the dangers posed by fentanyl.

Roman Gabriel III, CEO of the Sold Out Youth Foundation, highlighted the significance of addressing the stigma surrounding this issue. “One of the problems with fear is stigma. Lack of information and misinformation causes fear,” Gabriel noted. The organization actively conducts assemblies and events nationwide to foster open dialogues between students and parents about the fentanyl crisis.