Idaho Takes Action on Fentanyl in Schools

If you or someone you know has a fentanyl overdose, call 911 or a poison control center. For information about opioid overdoses, click here. You can learn more about naloxone here.

In early August, the Idaho Department of Education began conducting a survey that will measure the impact of fentanyl in public high schools and colleges. Scott Graf, the Department of Education’s communications director, said the survey was sent to staff across the state to gain a better understanding of how fentanyl use and overdose affects students.

“This is a way to keep our finger on the pulse of fentanyl in our high schools and our colleges,” Graf said.

Idaho reports From 2020 to 2022, fentanyl overdose deaths tripled, and in 2022 alone, the drug was involved in nearly half of all fatal drug overdoses in the state. Idaho State Police Captain John Kempf has seen this increase firsthand and helped launch the Idaho Fentanyl Education project.

“That’s true in Idaho as well. And our growing segment of people dying from fentanyl poisoning are between the ages of 15 and 24,” Kempf said.

Idaho Fentanyl Education is partnering with ISP and the Department of Education to deliver presentations in Idaho communities to educate K-12 students about the dangers of the drug.

Boise State University is also prioritizing the reduction of opioid overdoses on campus, including training staff and students on overdose management and placing 40 overdose response kits on campus.