Narcan in Arizona Schools to Combat Fentanyl Overdoses

Arizona is a major hub for Fentanyl, with half of the supply moving through the state last year.
There were 2,772 reported fentanyl deaths in Arizona last year. Thirty fatalities were children under 18.
Arizona schools have a plan to combat the crisis.

Fentanyl: 50 Times Stronger than Heroin

Stronger than prescription painkillers and more powerful than heroin, fentanyl is fifty times stronger and far more addictive than heroin.

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Arizona is grappling with a fentanyl crisis, and it's been ramping up to alarming levels in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracked 2,772 fentanyl deaths in Arizona last year.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, and it's so potent that even a very small dose can be lethal.

As a border community, fentanyl is being imported into and through Arizona at an alarming rate. Arizona is a major hub for fentanyl trafficking, so major, in fact, half of the fentanyl that came into the United States last year came through Arizona.

READ: Can You Legally Refuse to Take a Field Sobriety Test in Arizona?

Last year, 30 children took fatal doses of fentanyl in Arizona. // Canva

Arizona Schools Respond to the Fentanyl Crisis

Arizona schools have seen a profound increase in fentanyl use recently, and they're responding in a very proactive way. Last year, there were more than 1,900 opioid overdose deaths, and about thirty of the fatalities were children younger than 18.

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This is just what was seized in Arizona. The crisis is far worse. // Image credit: Fox 10 via YouTube

The Arizona Department of Education announced they're taking a proactive stance in this fight, by announcing plans to stock schools with Narcan (naloxone), the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses.

The new task force will coordinate educators, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement personnel in a collaborative effort to address the crisis.

The Plan to Combat the Fentanyl Crisis in Arizona Schools

Arizona schools are very aware of the already tight school budgets across the state, and they're working to keep the price down.

Training educators to combat the fentanyl crisis in Arizona. // Canva

The task force is working to lock in wholesale prices for Narcan. Coordinating with major healthcare companies, they hope to purchase Narcan at half the per-dose price, putting the cost at around $25 per dose, making it more affordable for Arizona schools already stressed budgets.

READ: Did Arizona Make it Illegal to Smoke with a Child in Your Car?

Fentanyl and narcotics seized in a drug bust in Arizona. // Courtesy Fox 10 via YouTube

Having the life-saving medication at the ready and combining the effort with education, Arizona schools are rolling out a comprehensive approach against the fentanyl crisis across Arizona schools.

This report via YouTube on the channel Fox 10 Phoenix is a stark illustration of the monumental crisis of fentanyl moving through Arizona.