Task force presents child-focused fentanyl-prevention lessons after outreach to local elementary school

Members of an overdose task force told the meeting they have developed a child-facing fentanyl-prevention presentation that was piloted at local elementary schools and reached about 850 students at Colonel Santos Elementary.

Frank Lozano, who spoke as part of the task force presentation, said the curriculum deliberately avoids technical terms and tells children that fentanyl is ‘‘a poison’’ to convey risk in age-appropriate language. “We brought it down to their level…we let them know about basically, it's a poison,” Lozano said while describing slides used in kindergarten through fifth-grade classes.

Presenters said the program describes where illicit pills are made, uses hands-on visual comparisons to convey how little can be lethal, warns that drug sellers sometimes mimic candy with brightly colored pills and edibles, and encourages students to identify and talk to trusted adults (parents, grandparents, teachers or school counselors). The presenters described peer-to-peer participation and suggestions from students—playing with or befriending a struggling classmate, joining school activities or talking to a trusted adult—as protective steps.

Organizers said the presentation is meant to complement existing school programs such as those being considered under "Tucker's law"–related prevention efforts, and they discussed sensitivity in language when referring to countries or cartels so that materials remain appropriate for young children. The task force also reviewed local seizure data and trends to explain how dangers change over time and urged continued community coordination.

Presenters did not request formal committee action but described follow-up opportunities for additional school visits and asked partners to help reinforce messages in families and community programs.