Having naloxone available in schools is one important piece to manage the opioid epidemic; however, it is reactive. Another key strategy for managing this opioid epidemic is to focus on prevention. Students spend most of their waking hours in school. Schools also have a unique relationship and opportunity to partner with parents/guardians and the community. School districts are uniquely positioned to educate students and parents/guardians on the dangers of fentanyl, other synthetic drugs, and emerging drugs. School districts may consider launching a fentanyl awareness campaign and incorporating specific opioid and fentanyl prevention lessons into their comprehensive health education plan. Below are some free resources available to help your district in these prevention efforts.

Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

• Fentanyl Fact Sheet
• Get Smart About Drugs -A DEA Resource for Parents, Educators & Caregivers 
• ​Available Publications (can request hard copies)
• ​Just Think Twice - For Teens
• Campus Drug Prevention - For Higher Education
• ​​​One Pill Can Kill DEA – Awareness Campaign​
• ​Operation Prevention:​ English & Spanish-language resources for students in grades 3-12, plus additional resources designed for educators, families, and professionals.

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Song for Charlie – Real Talk about Fentanyl
Song for Charlie: Raises awareness about fake pills made of fentanyl, among youth and parents. Includes video resources such as MS/HS Toolkit, flyers, posters, stickers, and social media content.Fentanyl Classroom Instruction Resources
Beaverton (OR) School District has made resources available free of charge with no restrictions. Schools can modify without credit to BSD.

• High School Health Lesson
• High School Health: Lesson Teacher's Guide
• High School Health: Assessment Ideas
• Middle School Health Lesson
• Advisory Lesson
• ​ODE Toolkit for Schools

Fighting Fentanyl – Hays Consolidated Independent School District (TX)
Fighting Fentanyl: Posters and student-created fentanyl awareness campaign
Fighting Fentanyl Video Series (English and Spanish)​

Los Angeles Unified School District
Family Academy Recordings and Slides in English and Spanish

• Substance Use and Fentanyl Awareness (Sept 2022)
• Substance Use and Parenting Tips to Lead Family Conversations (Oct 2022)
• Public Health Ambassadors: Substance Use Awareness Session 1 (Feb 2023)

Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID)
Dead On Arrival film with educator resources​

National Institute on Drug Abuse
Parents & Educators

• Lesson plans and activities for the classroom
• Mind Matters Series video and teacher guide
• Parents: Conversation starters to use with children​​

Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood: A Research-Based Guide Publication (March 2016)

Ad Council
The Real Deal on Fentanyl – Youth Campaign

• ​Describes fentanyl and naloxone facts, how to reduce the risk and social media graphics
• Classroom lessons (taught by ex-drug dealers) –chemistry, economics, health

Drop the F Bomb ​– Parent campaign addresses ow to talk to your kids about fentanyl.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Stop Overdose - Facts on fentanyl, polysubstance use, naloxone, stigma reduction and implementation toolkits.