COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A Columbus teen is turning her Girl Scout Gold Award project into a community-wide effort to fight fentanyl overdoses.
Hardaway High School senior Kaylah Green presented her fentanyl awareness and prevention project to the Muscogee County School Board Monday night.
She says Georgia and Columbus have not been spared from the national fentanyl epidemic.
"In 2021 to 2022 Columbus reached 23 deaths related to overdose of fentanyl and opioids." Said Green, "We want children and families to know that they can be fatal, when you take pills that do not come from your doctor or pharmacist."
Her project partners with schools, churches, and community leaders to push prevention and education from pre-k through 12th grade.
This includes creating a designated fentanyl awareness day during red ribbon week and supporting laws to expand access to life-saving overdose reversal drugs in schools. Muscogee county will be the first school system in Georgia to do so. Green is also working with state representative Carolyn Hugley to designate a day for awareness and education across Georgia.
Green's project brings together years of her work. She started with a science project in the 7th grade showing the lethal and dangerous dosage of synthetic ingredients and included how advocating for local, state and federal laws will address this health crisis.
In 11th grade, Green worked with Carver High School to create a video highlighting the dangers of fentanyl.
"Naturally, my senior project will compile and demonstrate all efforts in collaboration of combating this health crisis, starting right here at home," said Green.
Green invited the public to a fentanyl awareness event at carver high school on October 25th.
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