The new school year is beginning for many, but before the bell rings, I want to address the increasing dangers we see from opioids in our schools. Fentanyl is sadly the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45, and it only takes a 2-milligram dose—the size of a grain of rice—to cause an overdose. As it becomes increasingly available, it is crucial for parents to understand the risks that their children are facing.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, over 300,000 people have died due to drug overdose deaths nationwide in the last 15 years, which is roughly 55 people per day. The rate of opioid related deaths, largely due to fentanyl, among children ages 14-18 has skyrocketed almost threefold since 2016, and urgent action is necessary.

With the rise of social media, illicit drug traffickers have an entire new marketplace to advertise to a new audience: your children. New technology allows criminals to post advertisements that disappear in just 24 hours, which is just enough time for their target audience to view them before law enforcement can catch on. Posts often utilize keywords and strategically placed emojis that are used as a code by those in-the-know to market and sell illicit drugs while evading detection. So, what can you do?

Before the new school year, make sure you have a discussion with your child or adolescent in about the dangers of drugs. The danger of fentanyl disguised as prescription drugs such as Xanax, Adderall, and other painkillers is also on the rise, so it is crucial children know that they cannot trust that everything they buy on the internet is “safe.” As fentanyl prices drop due to a greater supply, the most important thing you can do to protect your children is having a frank discussion on the dangers of this illicit substance.

But the buck doesn’t stop there. In Congress, I am also working to mitigate this threat. Last year, I introduced the Stop Overdose in Schools Act to address the skyrocketing adolescent overdose rate. This legislation sets aside funds for naloxone training and purchasing, increases naloxone access for school resource officers, security personnel, and school nurses, and requires resources to be allocated to school districts in both rural areas as well as regions with high rates of drug overdoses by youth.

While our communities grapple with this ongoing crisis, I am working with my colleagues in Congress to enact tangible and attainable solutions to help curb our youth overdose rates. I hope no parent—in Central Washington or beyond—must face a reality where their child suffers due to an overdose, but maintained vigilance this school year will be a step forward in reducing the effect of fentanyl in our region.

If you are a parent looking to learn more about this issue, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill/parents-and-caregivers for educational resources.