HB 6-PUBLIC SCHOOLS; OPIOID AWARENESS PROGRAM  3:59:54 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 6, "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public education; relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention; and providing for an effective date." 4:00:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced HB 6. He paraphrased from the sponsor statement [copy included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: House Bill 6 addresses the need to better educate the youth in Alaska on the dangers of opioid misuse. Many communities around Alaska are feeling the impacts of the rising misuse of opioids and an increase in fentanyl related deaths. This legislation would instruct the Department of Education and Early Development to put in place a 60- minute curriculum that would cover opioid abuse awareness and prevention. This curriculum would be for students grades six through 12 and would cover information about the dangers of using opioids, awareness of opioids that target children, and early warning signs related to opioid addiction, among other things. The department would also be directed to consult with other entities around the state that have experience in dealing with opioid related problems. Some of these groups would include The Department of Health, state and tribal entities, and family members of individuals who had an opioid overdose. House Bill 6 will educate our kids on the dangers of opioid use and help prepare them to deal with this ever-growing danger in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER stated that fentanyl is a problem in the state. He suggested that the drug can look like "Skittles" and tempt children. He suggested that children are being subtly taken over by the drug world, and the proposed legislation would deal with this aspect. 4:03:34 PM RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Rauscher, prime sponsor, gave a sectional analysis on HB 6 [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1: AS 14.30 Adds a new section to explain the awareness and prevention curriculum for students in grades six through twelve. Details are provided on who will be consulted and how the curriculum will be developed. Section 2: The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section related to DEED regulations. Section 3: AS 14.30.363(c) Enacted by Section 1, the effective date is September 1, 2023. Section 4: With the exception of Section 3 of this Act, this Act takes effect immediately. 4:04:36 PM MICHAEL CARSON, Vice-President/Recovery Specialist, MyHouse Mat- Su Homeless Youth Shelter; Chair, Mat-Su Opioid Task Force, shared that he also sits on the state's opioid steering committee. He thanked the committee for the invitation to testify in support of HB 6. Discussing the current data on the opioid epidemic, he stated the first phase involved pain pills, the second phase involved heroin, and the current phase involves fentanyl. He stated that 15- to 44-year-olds have seen an increase in overdoses, with 25- to 34-year-olds seeing the greatest increase. He explained that all public school students would eventually be in the greatest risk age group. He added that in 2021 Alaska had the largest jump in drug overdoses in the nation, with one out of three Alaskans being affected by the opioid epidemic. He referenced the recent drug arrests at the airport in Juneau. He stated that 5,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills were seized, with a street value of $150,000. He stated the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released the lab results which said 6 out of 10 counterfeit pills have a potential lethal dose. He explained that 2 mg of fentanyl is fatal, with 1 gram having the potential to kill 500 people. He stressed the importance of educating youth, because now most illicit drugs are contaminated with fentanyl. He added that no drug is safe unless it comes from a doctor or pharmacist. He stated that because parents are a vital partner in the education of their children, they also need to learn this. 4:08:24 PM MR. CARSON stated that there is no current health curriculum addressing opioids, much less fentanyl. He stated that the last time the health curriculum had been revised was before the COVID-19 pandemic, and then no mention of opioid tolerance, dependence, or addiction had been made. He stated that the Department of Education and Early Development's (DEED's) resources for teachers have no updated information on fentanyl, and the proposed legislation would be requesting curriculum development. He suggested that in the interim Kellsie's Lesson could be utilized. He explained this lesson helps students understand how opioids "hack and whack the brain," and it is aligned with the national health standards. MR. CARSON, addressing his qualifications, shared that he taught school for 35 years in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. He stated that he has also taught at Mat-Su College, done postgraduate work in addiction studies, and worked with the Division of Juvenile Justice. He stated that he has been a recovery specialist and currently sits on the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force. He stated that he would welcome any questions on any drug or Kellsie's Lesson. 4:11:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA questioned whether any statewide drug curriculum exists in the country. MR. CARSON responded that Red Ribbon Week is the last week of October, and this is a national drug prevention campaign. He stated that during this week a 30-minute lesson is taught. However, this would be dependent on individual schools and districts. He stated this past year he did a presentation on fentanyl during Red Ribbon Week at Colony Middle School and Colony High School. He stated that fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. 4:13:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA, with a follow up, questioned the rates of opioid abuse and overdoses among youth in Alaska compared with the national average. MR. CARSON stated that in 2021 Alaska had the biggest jump in drug overdoses in the country, with 25- to 34-year-olds having the greatest increase. He stated that he could follow up with specific numbers but advised that there is a data lag. He explained that teenagers would eventually be in the high-risk group of 25- to 34-year-olds. He said, "I think it is imperative to move upstream. I am all about pulling people out of the river of addiction, getting them to detox and treatment, but there is something to say about moving upstream and cutting off the flow." 4:15:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned whether a specific curriculum on opioid addiction should be created, and whether any current required drug-abuse curriculum exists for Alaska schools. MR. CARSON expressed uncertainty concerning a mandated drug curriculum in Alaska. He added that Maryland would be the only state with this type of school curriculum. 4:17:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER requested that DEED be questioned on this point. He expressed surprise that mandated education on drug abuse does not exist and suggested the proposed legislation could be broadened to include more dangerous drugs. 4:18:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER commented that he remembered the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. He expressed the understanding that the program was discontinued because of failure. He stated that while children were being educated about drug abuse, drug use had increased. He added that research on this topic would be useful. He expressed the opinion that something needs to be done; however, he expressed uncertainty about the proposed legislation. He voiced interest in learning about drug education programs which have had an impact. 4:19:13 PM Representative Rauscher responded that he would research drug education and follow up with more information for the committee. 4:19:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE MINA, referring to the proposed legislation, expressed the understanding that DEED would create the curriculum for the schools. She questioned the format and the frequency of the classes. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER responded that the legislature would not design the curriculum, timing, or presentation of the material. He stated that the schools and districts would decide this. He deferred to Mr. Carson. MR. CARSON, addressing D.A.R.E., stated that the program did not produce its targeted benchmarks. Regarding the recommended frequency of [drug awareness classes], he expressed the opinion that, because of the ever-changing drug epidemic, classes should be taught once a year in an assembly or a health class format. He suggested that classes be taught during Red Ribbon Week. He concurred with the idea that HB 6 could be expanded to include other drugs. He stated that because of the ever-changing drug epidemic Kelsee's Lesson has to be updated every few weeks. 4:23:55 PM Representative Rauscher pointed out a CBS News article from March 1, 2023, which described Alaska as fentanyl's "deadliest frontier." 4:24:23 PM CHAIR PRAX announced HB 6 was held over.