Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has sent a letter to superintendents of Florida schools, expressing concerns about the ongoing fentanyl crisis. This epidemic continues to claim lives at an alarming rate and has significantly impacted communities throughout Florida. Following a roundtable discussion earlier this year with families, law enforcement, and subject-matter experts, Senator Scott is urging schools to implement educational programs on fentanyl awareness as the new school year begins.

Senator Scott has been active in combating the fentanyl crisis. Earlier this Congress, his bipartisan legislation, the Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The Act mandates that the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) update its policies at least once every three years to ensure operational field manuals and drug interdiction guidance are current. This legislation builds on a 2019 GAO report that found drug interdiction guidance had not been updated in 20 years. The END FENTANYL Act was cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen, Mike Braun, Maggie Hassan, and Mark Kelly. Representatives Michael Guest and David Trone led the initiative in the House of Representatives.

In his letter, Senator Scott wrote: “As we embark on another school year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering dedication to the education and well-being of Florida's children... One of the most pressing issues we face is the ongoing fentanyl crisis. This devastating epidemic continues to claim lives at an alarming rate... In 2023, over 107,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, with fentanyl being the leading cause of death among individuals aged 18 to 49.”

Senator Scott continued: “The statistics are sobering: in 2022, over 1,200 young people aged 14 to 18 lost their lives to drug overdoses... Experts and law enforcement consistently emphasize that the best way to prevent our children from experimenting with deadly substances is education on the dangers they present. As leaders in education, I urge you to collaborate with advocacy organizations... ready and eager to provide life-saving information to your students.”

Last year, Senator Scott sent a similar letter emphasizing the need for better education on the deadly fentanyl crisis facing both state and nation. In May this year, he joined colleagues in introducing a resolution designating May 7 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

In addition to these initiatives, Senator Scott has sponsored several bills aimed at addressing various aspects of the fentanyl crisis:

- Stopping Online Confusion for Investigative Agencies and Law-Enforcement by Maintaining Evidence Determined Interparty Arrangements (SOCIAL MEDIA) Act

- Continuing High-Quality Evaluations of Concerning and Known Persons of Interest Through National Training Updates (CHECKPOINT) Act

- Upholding the Law at the Border Act

- Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act

- Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act

- Opioid Response Action Data and Reforms (RADAR) Act

- Overcoming Prevalent Inadequacies in Overdose Information Data (OPIOIDS) Act