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DEA honors Tempe Union students for fentanyl-awareness PSA, agency presents plaque to 'No Second Chance'
Summary
The Drug Enforcement Administration presented a plaque to the Tempe Union High School District's No Second Chance student group and the board screened a student-produced PSA warning about fentanyl's dangers; Special Agent Sherry Oz praised the students' outreach and said the work is saving lives.
The Drug Enforcement Administration joined the Tempe Union High School District governing board meeting to recognize the district's No Second Chance student group and to present a student-produced public-service announcement about fentanyl.
Superintendent Doctor Wilson introduced Special Agent in Charge Sherry Oz and other DEA representatives and invited students to present a PSA the district produced about fentanyl and the opioid crisis. The PSA warned that fentanyl is often mixed with or pressed into other drugs and cited, verbally in the PSA, that the DEA seized "80,000,000 fentanyl-laced pills in 2023." The PSA emphasized the risk that people may take what they believe is a prescription pill or party drug and instead receive a lethal dose of fentanyl.
After the video, Special Agent Sherry Oz commended the students and the district for prevention work and presented a plaque to No Second Chance for outreach and participation in the Red Ribbon rally. Oz said the student efforts are having measurable effects on awareness in schools and offered a direct endorsement of the work: "These kids are saving lives." Doctor Wilson and board members echoed that sentiment and thanked the students and DEA Phoenix division staff for partnering with schools on outreach.
Why it matters: Board members said the project helps reach young people through peer messaging and that student-led PSAs may produce better engagement than adult-led messaging alone. The presentation provided the governing board an update on local prevention partnerships and reinforced district efforts to increase student awareness about opioid risks.
What was said: The PSA narrative emphasized fentanyl’s ability to be mixed into heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine or pressed into counterfeit pills "without the user's knowledge," which, the video warned, creates a high risk of unintentional overdose. Special Agent Sherry Oz told the board that the DEA has been a "champion" for the district’s No Second Chance group and presented the plaque as recognition of their work.
Next steps: The presentation concluded the superintendent's report; board members had no follow-up motions tied specifically to the presentation during this meeting.
Sources: Remarks and video presented at the Tempe Union High School District governing board meeting (superintendent's report), Special Agent Sherry Oz, and the student-produced PSA.
