Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday continued efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids - including fentanyl, which is often hidden in other drugs - and synthetic cannabinoids. As part of these efforts, a joint letter from the Commissioners of the State Education Department, Department of Health, and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services is being sent to school districts detailing the risks, including death, associated with these drugs and reminding them of the resources offered by the state to educate students and communities. The full text of the letter is available here.

"As we fight to combat the opioid epidemic, it is critical that we educate New York's students on the very real dangers of fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids," Cuomo said. "We will continue to bolster our efforts to keep this poison out of the hands of our children, and I encourage schools to join us in this fight by using the free resources available to them to keep students healthy and safe."

"In New York we're aggressively working to combat the opioid epidemic, and it is vital that students are made aware of the dangers of these drugs, including fentanyl," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force. "We're providing school districts with the information they need to know the risks and resources available to prevent and help treat drug abuse. We want to ensure our youth make informed decisions and lead healthy and safe lives."

As use of these drugs among young people in New York continues to rise, the Governor is urging school districts to take action to address the ongoing crisis. Injection drug use among high school students doubled from 2005 to 2015 and in 2017, more than 6 percent of high schoolers reported having used synthetic cannabinoids.

FDA-approved fentanyl can be administered appropriately as an anesthetic during medical procedures and under close medical supervision. However, new forms of illicit fentanyl are being sold illegally or are being mixed with heroin and other drugs, which increases their potency and the risks of overdose or death. Synthetic cannabinoids are illegal and are marketed specifically to young people under a variety of eye-catching names and packaging. Synthetic cannabinoids consist of plant materials sprayed with unknown chemicals and despite sometimes being referred to as "synthetic marijuana," do not contain marijuana.

The letter to school districts also contains information about the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, and encourages schools to have naloxone on hand to administer to students in cases where opioid overdoses are suspected.

A key message in the letter is that school districts should use the New York State Addiction and Substance Use Disorder Educational Resource, which is available to districts on a flash drive at no cost. The entire content included on the flash drive can also be accessed online free of charge.

State Education Department Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said, "No community is immune to the effects of the unprecedented scourge that is today's opioid crisis. The role that teachers and school staff play in a student's life cannot be underestimated and by equipping them with information on these deadly drugs we are putting them in a position to potentially save a life. If we are able to educate our youth today on the dangers of opioids and synthetic drugs, we are giving them the tools to make good decisions down the road."

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