Assembly Bill 889

AB 889- Annual Notice to Parents and Guardians Regarding Synthetic Drugs

AB 889 requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to notify parents or guardians regarding the dangers associated with using unprescribed synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, through updates to the annual notice. As a reminder, the annual notice should be provided at the beginning of the first semester/quarter of the regular school term. In addition to updating the annual notice, LEAs will also be required to make information regarding the use of synthetic drugs available on their websites, if the LEA maintains a website, for parents or guardians to easily access.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a high potency synthetic opioid that is colorless and odorless and can cause rapid respiratory depression resulting in accidental death. It is both a prescribed drug, as well as a drug that is used illegally. All medication that is not from a doctor or pharmacy should be considered unsafe and suspicious for having fentanyl.

Illegally manufactured fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into counterfeit pills that look like other prescription opioids. Importantly, fentanyl is also being mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA.

Why should I care?

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) ,

• Emergency department visits related to non-fatal opioid overdoses in California's youth ages 10-19 years have more than tripled from 2018 (379 total) to 2020 (1,222 total).
• Opioid-related overdose deaths in California's youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 (54 total) to 2020 (274 total), marking a 407 percent increase over two years, largely driven by fentanyl.
• Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in California's youth ages 10-19 years increased from 2018 (36 total) to 2020 (261 total), a 625 percent increase.

What is CSB doing?

The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority.

We have trained school nurses on-site that can administer naloxone in an emergency situation.

We are actively encouraging students to visit our school psychologists when feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

How should I talk to my children about this?

Parents and guardians should be prepared, get informed, and have some background knowledge on fentanyl, the fentanyl crisis, and substance use before starting the conversation with their child(ren).

Parents and guardians should use honest language that emphasizes their family values and concerns around drug use.

Conversations that are open and consider your child(ren)s understanding and experiences are more effective than lecturing and utilizing scare tactics.

Parents and guardians should initiate age-appropriate conversations with their children about substance use.

Review the following resources for tips on how to start the conversation:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Why You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Harvard Health: Teens and drugs: 5 tips for talking with your kids

Additional Resources

• CHOC - What parents should know about Fentanyl
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Fentanyl - Drug Facts (English)
• NIDA: Fentanilo - Drug Facts (Spanish)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): What You Need to Know About Naloxone (PDF)
• SAMHSAs Talk. They Hear You. campaign podcast, What Parents Are Saying - Prevention Wisdom, Authenticity, and Empowerment

If you have questions and concerns, please contact us at info@csb-cde.ca.gov.