Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen unveiled a new initiative today aimed at addressing the state’s growing fentanyl crisis. The program will provide life-saving naloxone kits to middle and high schools across Montana, equipping schools with essential tools to handle opioid overdoses.
The naloxone kits, which include the overdose-reversal medication naloxone, a CPR respirator mask, a face shield, and detailed administration instructions, are part of Knudsen’s broader effort to combat the widespread impact of fentanyl in the state.
“These naloxone kits will help us save lives,” Knudsen said during the announcement at Billings Senior High School, where he delivered the first kit. “The fentanyl crisis is affecting every part of our communities, including our schools. Educating students about the dangers of fentanyl is crucial, but having naloxone on hand will prepare schools for emergency situations. With cartels increasingly disguising fentanyl as candy and other substances, it’s more important than ever to be proactive.”
The program is a collaboration between the Montana Department of Justice and Facing Fentanyl, with support from Billings Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Erwin Garcia and Division of Criminal Investigation Drug Intelligence Officer Will Janisch.
Recent data highlights the urgency of the initiative. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reported that 326 children ages 0-17 were treated in emergency rooms or hospitalized due to unintentional overdoses in 2022, with 276 similar cases last year. Nationally, the CDC recorded 1,582 drug-related overdose deaths among children aged 0-19 in 2022.
Fentanyl seizures by Montana’s anti-drug task forces have surged in recent years. As of the first quarter of 2024, task forces have seized 163,184 dosage units of fentanyl, compared to 65,142 during the same period in 2023. Last year’s total seizures amounted to 398,000 units, up from 188,823 in 2022 and 60,557 in 2021. The State Crime Lab has reported 22 fentanyl-related overdose deaths so far this year, compared to 80 in 2023.
To address the crisis, Attorney General Knudsen secured funding for two additional narcotics agents at the Division of Criminal Investigation and supported legislative measures such as House Bill 791, which mandates strict penalties for fentanyl trafficking, and Senate Bill 67, which updates controlled substance schedules to enhance state-level prosecutions.
Knudsen has also expanded resources by adding a statewide drug intelligence officer and facilitating a grant program to deploy drug-detecting K9s throughout the state. On the federal front, Knudsen has testified against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and called for the Biden-Harris administration to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations and fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
“We appreciate our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and their efforts to keep students safe,” Dr. Garcia stated, emphasizing the collaborative approach to safeguarding Montana’s youth.
