Classes on fentanyl, drug poisoning to be taught in Alabama public schools

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Starting this fall, Alabama teens will educated on how to stay safe from illegal drugs following a bill passed in honor of a young man’s sudden death.

In 2021, Auburn High School student Price Hornsby died after taking a fentanyl-laced pill at the age of 17.

Now, the Price Hornsby Act requires Alabama public schools to teach middle and high school students about the dangers of fentanyl and drug poisoning. The research-based instruction will begin this upcoming school year.

State Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) served as a first responder. One of the last calls he received on the job was Hornsby’s death. His family has since worked on raising awareness to prevent a similar tragedy from happening to others.

“As a father myself, I wanted to see if they would let his legacy be attached to this,” Lovvorn said. “They were very excited about it.”

Nicole Shine is the executive director for the Resources, Education and Advocacy for Drug-free Youth (READY). She said that drug dealers lace many things with fentanyl such as ADHD medication and candy.

“What if a student gets exposed and they take candy from someone?” Shine said. “It’s very important not only for the school system but also for the community to know what’s out there.”

Shine added that it’s important for parents to keep an open line of communication with their children on the topic of drug prevention.

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