The Fentanyl Awareness Movement in US Schools Is Growing

States are requiring schools to implement fentanyl safety programs as more children die of overdoses.

Brightly colored counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills. Courtesy of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

In the coming months, public schools in Illinois, Oregon, and Washington state will likely be required to educate students about the dangers of fentanyl.

The state law for Illinois, pending the governor’s signature, and Oregon, would take effect in September, while public schools in Washington must comply by the start of the 2025–26 academic year.