The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a member of a county-wide working group, aiming to educate the diverse communities of Santa Clara County about the dangers the drug can pose, specifically to youth. By working together, educators, health experts, community partners, and families can better provide the critical support to help keep our students informed, healthy, and safe.
“The best tool we can give youth is education so they are encouraged to make safe and healthy decisions. I urge our community to increase awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Together, we can prevent fentanyl-related deaths.”
- Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools
Beginning with the 2024/2025 school year, school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education must inform parents or legal guardians about the dangers associated with using synthetic drugs, including fentanyl and counterfeit pills. (Ed. Code section 48985.5.) This information must be included on the organization’s website. It must also be annually provided to parents or legal guardians, making it a potentially convenient addition to the information in your annual parent/student handbook. SCCOE offers guidance on information that LEAs can add to their websites to meet this requirement. Learn more
about Assembly Bill 889.
Help Spread the Word
The Santa Clara County Opioid Overdose Prevention Project (SCCOOPP) is a coalition of healthcare professionals and other volunteers from a variety of backgrounds whose aim is to promote opioid safety throughout our county for all residents. Our coalition is part of a larger network of opioid safety coalitions throughout the state, called the
California Opioid Prevention Network.
The
Ad Council’s mission is to convene the best storytellers to educate, unite, and uplift. They develop creative marketing and communications to tackle social issues at scale.
The Real Deal on Fentanyl campaign includes facts, resources for students to help friends, social media content, lesson plans, and ways to reduce risk.
The Fentanyl Epidemic in Schools presentation was held at the 2023 California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. The story of Zach, Rocklin Unified School District, and Riverside Unified School District’s efforts to spread awareness.
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PowerPoint Slide Deck (download)
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the leading organization in the U.S. promoting alternatives to the war on drugs. DPA developed and distributed
Safety First: Real Drug Education for Teens, the nation’s first harm reduction-based drug education curriculum for high school students.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) is advancing science on drug use and addiction to apply that knowledge towards improving individual and public health.
Natural High is a drug prevention nonprofit that inspires and empowers youth to find their natural high and develop the skills and courage to live life well. Fentanyl toolkits, videos, lessons, and resources are available.
San Diego County Office of Education - Fentanyl Resource
Choose My Future series includes six 10- to 20-minute drug education videos exploring the impacts of drug use on the developing brain; explain the dangers of vaping, marijuana, opioids, fentanyl, and other drugs; and provide strategies for handling peer pressure and getting help. While designed for classroom use, parents and caregivers can use these resources to invite youth to share what they’ve learned.
