California to add fentanyl education to high school health classes

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — California high school students will soon be receiving instruction on the dangers of fentanyl after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill into law on Tuesday that would require districts or charter schools who offer health classes to include it in the course.

Assembly Bill 2429 was introduced by Asm. David Alvarez (D-San Diego) to help deter fentanyl use among teenagers through education, as well as give them the tools to be able to recognize its impacts and assist in an emergency.

Before receiving the governor’s stamp of approval, the bill passed through both the Assembly and Senate with near unanimous votes earlier this year.

“Although a significant problem across the country and other parts of the world, California has been disproportionally hit hard by the fentanyl epidemic,” Alvarez said in an analysis on the bill. “Resolving this crisis will take a myriad of solutions. However, increasing education and understanding must be at the forefront of our solutions.”

Under AB 2429, only districts, private schools or charter schools that require health courses in order to graduate would be tasked with adding fentanyl education to its curriculum. Among the topics required to be included in health instruction include:

• An explanation of the differences between synthetic opioids, non-synthetic opioids and illicit drugs.
• Different variations of fentanyl, including its uses — both legal and illegal.
• The risks of using fentanyl, such as its lethality, its addictive properties, how it can lead to hypoxia.
• An explanation of “lacing,” or the process of mixing fentanyl in with other drugs, and how to detect if it has been added.
• How to identify and save someone from a fentanyl overdose.

According to the bill, the fentanyl instruction will be required to be implemented beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

“The passing of Assembly Bill 2429 marks a crucial step in our efforts to educate young people about the dangers associated with fentanyl,” San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas said in a statement on the bill. The County of San Diego co-sponsored the measure with Alvarez.

“There is no one-size solution to this crisis, but providing education about the dangers of fentanyl is a good first step,” she continued.

Drug overdoses is currently one of the leading causes of injury death in the U.S., rising significantly over the last two decades — notably among those between the ages of 35 and 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are one of the main drivers of these deaths, surpassing overdoses involving substances such as cocaine, methamphetamines, prescription opioids and heroin.

Teenagers have similarly seen a rise in fentanyl overdoses, despite drug use generally falling over the last two decades. A 2022 study in the New England Journal of Medicine attributes this growth to teenagers unknowingly consuming counterfeit drugs with traces of fentanyl.

“Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 49, and its impact is felt across the nation and globe,” Alvarez said in a statement. “AB 2429 underscores the importance of education in combating this crisis and ensures our youth are prepared to protect themselves and their communities.”

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