HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Texas State University researchers are utilizing a $1.8 million grant to combat fentanyl in Hays County.
The grant comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It will be used to bolster the university’s Fentanyl Education, Support Training, and Awareness (FESTA) program, an initiative that helps schools implement substance abuse educational programming.
In 2023, the Texas legislature passed Tucker’s Law, which requires Texas school districts to teach annually students in sixth through 12th grades about the dangers of fentanyl.
“With that new requirement and the fact that schools might need some additional help, sometimes because they’re doing so many other good things, they might want additional resources or the extra manpower to create and implement outreach and educational resources for their school community,” said Kelly Clary, the FESTA project director.
“This was an opportunity to collaborate with Hays County middle and high schools to support their students, faculty, and parents/caregivers,” she continued.
The team, which includes four researchers, plans to host outreach events and provide educational resources with the help of Texas ICON, Cenikor, the Hays County Sherriff’s Office, and Hill Country MHDD over the next five years.