Illinois House Committee Approves Plan Requiring Junior High Fentanyl Education

Last year, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation requiring fentanyl education in all high schools. Representatives are now hoping to enact a measure requiring this teaching in junior high.

Sponsors feel that kids in grades 6 through 8 should understand the differences between synthetic and non-synthetic opioids, illicit substances, and fentanyl variations. Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) said on Tuesday that young kids should be aware of the risks and side effects of fentanyl use.

“Fentanyl can show up in places that are probably pretty unexpected for people,” said Yang Rohr, a pharmacist. “These aren’t usually folks looking to do strong drugs. It could be as part of performance-enhancing medications obtained from illegal sources on the internet.” Local school boards could decide on age-appropriate information for pupils to learn about the drug. They would also be able to determine how much time teachers would need to spend on fentanyl education.

“I don’t think it would need to be a semester,” Yang Rohr stated. “In junior high, for example, I know there is a health class. So I imagine you could cover this stuff in half a class. But I am not an authority on that.”

The House Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policy Committee overwhelmingly approved the proposal. House Bill 4219 now moves to the House floor for further consideration.