Keeping Our Kids Safe: Understanding Fentanyl and Community Efforts

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As part of the Boulder Valley School District’s (BVSD) ongoing commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we want to address a critical issue affecting communities across the nation—fentanyl. This powerful synthetic opioid, while primarily used for medical purposes, poses a significant risk when misused or encountered outside of medical supervision. Understanding and awareness are key to protecting our children from this dangerous substance.

What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a potent opioid used medically to treat severe pain. However, due to its strength—about 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine—it is particularly dangerous if misused or if someone comes into contact with it accidentally. Even a small amount can be fatal, making it crucial for us to understand how to keep children safe.

School Initiatives
Our schools are taking significant steps to address this issue:

1. Educational Programs: Schools are incorporating drug education into our curricula, including the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids. These programs are designed to help students understand the risks and to make informed decisions. Please contact your school nurse if you wish to learn more.

2. Training for Staff: Educators and school staff receive training on how to recognize signs of substance misuse and how to respond appropriately. This training includes how to use naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, which is now available through all of our Emergency Response Teams to utilize in the case of an emergency.

3. Parental Engagement: Various school and community events have been hosted to provide information to parents and guardians to discuss the dangers of fentanyl and to provide guidance on how to talk to their children about drugs. These sessions also include strategies for identifying warning signs of drug misuse. If your school community is interested in one of these informational sessions, please reach out to your school nurse and administration.

Community Efforts
Our community has been proactive in addressing the fentanyl crisis. Here’s what we’re doing:

1. Awareness Campaigns: Local organizations such as the “Healthy Futures Coalition” and “Communities that Care”  along with Boulder County and Broomfield County health departments have launched educational campaigns to inform residents about the dangers of fentanyl. These campaigns include training on Naloxone use, informational flyers, and online resources designed to raise awareness and provide preventive measures.

2. Boulder County Fentanyl Planning & Response Group: In February 2022, an interdisciplinary group of Boulder County stakeholders started meeting to work on mitigating the impacts of fentanyl in the community. 

3. The Naloxone Bulk Fund through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE): has primarily been the supporter and supplier of Naloxone to school districts across the state. Because of declining funds, CDPHE has put out a Prioritization plan in its distribution of Naloxone in the near future. To keep yourself and our community safe, we highly recommend individuals seek out obtaining Naloxone on their own through local resources and your pharmacy.

Data Supporting Our Efforts
Recent data underscores the urgency of these initiatives. National statistics reveal a troubling rise in fentanyl-related overdoses, especially among young people. 

A 2023 study found that fentanyl was involved in over 60% of opioid overdose deaths in our state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reports a sharp increase in synthetic opioid-related fatalities among adolescents and young adults over the past few years.

Boulder County's findings align with national trends showing an increase in fentanyl-related deaths. In 2023, the Boulder County Coroner's office conducted toxicology testing on 220 decedents. Out of these tests, 165 revealed the presence of one or more drugs. Among these 165 cases, 47 decedents had fentanyl in their system. Fentanyl was a contributing cause of death in 38 of these cases and was merely present in 9 cases. 

Access to Naloxone
Most pharmacies are able to dispense Naloxone (Narcan) without a prescription. Medicaid will dispense Naloxone from participating pharmacies free of charge. Please check with your insurance to verify costs and availability. Boulder County Public Health webpage provides locations where Naloxone can be obtained.

Seeking Additional Information and Resources
We understand that parents might have questions or need further support. Here are some valuable resources:

• Boulder County and Broomfield County Public Health: Offers information on fentanyl, including where and how to obtain Naloxone and treatment resources.
• National Helpline: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides confidential help 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• Mental Health Emergency call line: 988
• School Health Teams: Our school counselors and nurses are available to provide support and answer any questions you may have about drug education and prevention efforts.

By working together and staying informed, we can make a significant difference in the fight against fentanyl and protect the health and safety of our children. 

Learn more about Fentanyl and find resources to help identity on BVSD’s Fentanyl and Narcan webpage.