FESTA Program: Implementing School-Based Fentanyl and Overdose Prevention Supporting Tucker’s Law

Fatal fentanyl overdoses among adolescents ages 10–19 increased by 182% in recent years (Tanz et al., 2022), and fentanyl is now the leading cause of overdose deaths among individuals ages 18–49 in the US (CDC, 2023). Texas ranks second nationally in estimated cases of Opioid Use Disorder, with Hays County reporting 70 fentanyl-related overdoses since 2022, with half of those being under the age of 18 (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2023). Tucker’s Law was passed in 2023, which requires Texas public school students in grades 6–12 to receive fentanyl education. The Fentanyl Education and Support Training Awareness (FESTA) Program is a school-based prevention initiative serving youth in grades 6–12 across three school districts in Hays County, Texas. The FESTA Program is a $1.87 million federally funded program through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from 2024 to 2029. Grounded in SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, FESTA builds prevention capacity through evidence-informed classroom presentations, naloxone/Narcan education, and community training. FESTA operates through close collaboration with San Marcos CISD, Wimberley ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Katherine Anne Porter School, and San Marcos Excel Academy, alongside community partners including Texas ICON, Cenikor, Hill Country MHDD, the Hays County Public Health Department, and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. The program systematically collects and analyzes participation and feedback data to inform continuous improvement and guide program activities. Participant feedback across age groups has been overwhelmingly positive. Students reported exceptional engagement, while adults emphasized the program’s relevance, emotional impact, and value in preventing overdose-related loss. In just 1.5 years, FESTA has reached thousands of students, families, and community members; strengthened community partnerships; elevated public awareness through media engagement; and delivered evidence-informed prevention education. FESTA demonstrates a scalable, collaborative model for strengthening school-based fentanyl and overdose prevention across Texas.