OLYMPIA, Wash. — When it comes to fentanyl, one pill can kill, and the Drug Enforcement Agency says seven out of 10 pills sold to kids are laced with fentanyl.
In Washington, the overdose epidemic has reached crisis proportions. The state's Department of Health reports that rates of opioid deaths among kids ages 14 to 18 surged almost threefold from 2016 to 2022.
Now, Washington lawmakers are seeking help from the state’s school system to improve awareness about fentanyl and its deceptive nature.
"The bottom line is that too many of our young people are dying," said Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane.
House Bill 1956, which aims to create educational partnerships for more awareness about the drug, has officially passed out of the House unanimously.
"This is a straightforward way of making sure that our young people and the public at the information they need about the opioid epidemic," Ricelli added.
With full support from the House, the bill will now head to the Senate side.
"Things are moving forward," a mother from Mount Vernon who lost her son to a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl.
HB 1956 would add opioids to the list of drugs included in education in middle and high school classes, would order the distribution of updated drug prevention and awareness classroom materials, and would require that the DOH implement a statewide awareness campaign.
In doing so, the legislation also aims to inform parents.
"I did not know anything about fentanyl, or fake pills," said Schweigert.
Sadly, for Schweigert, the legislation comes too little too late.
"I hope he's proud," she said. "I feel like I didn't have a choice in this fight. Like, it chose me.”
Schweigert tragically lost her son Trey nearly six years ago.
"It was the biggest shock," said Schweigert.
The tragedy happened after he swallowed a fake Percocet while recovering from a broken leg.
Ever since, Schweigert has made it her life purpose to advocate for more fentanyl awareness across the state. She said she believes young people are especially vulnerable to the deception of fentanyl.
"Even like death itself is such a foreign concept to them. So the fact that something could actually be so harmful to kill them, or a friend, is not even something that they can really fully understand at the age of a child, or a young adult," she said.
Schweigert believes fentanyl education must be mandated in public schools so that more families are not torn apart by this epidemic.
According to the DEA, just two milligrams of fentanyl can kill you.
With the public awareness campaign, the Department of Health estimates HB 1956 would cost upwards of $3 million per year, which they say is in alignment with past, similar campaigns.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's classroom materials are expected to cost $334,000 in fiscal year 2025, and nearly $200,000 per year after that.
A companion bill exists in the Senate, but it’s still in the committee process.