Assemblyman Robert Smullen, representing the Mohawk Valley and the Adirondacks, introduced Assembly Bill A.8540, known as the “Fentanyl Fathers and Mothers Act,” at a press conference in Albany on June 11, 2025. The event included Greg Swan, Co-Founder of the Fentanyl Fathers Non-Profit Organization, and members of the Assembly Minority Conference.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a comprehensive Fentanyl Education, Awareness and Recognition Program for students in grades six through twelve across public, charter, and private schools in New York state. This initiative comes in response to rising concerns over opioid-related deaths among young people due to fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 30,000 opioid-related deaths occurred in New York between 2018 and 2024. Most of these fatalities involved non-methadone synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its derivatives. Nationwide statistics show that from January 31, 2020, to January 31, 2021, overdose deaths involving opioids increased by 38.1%, with those involving synthetic opioids rising by 55.6%.
Smullen emphasized the importance of educating youth about the dangers of fentanyl to prevent further loss of life. “We must educate our children and teens to protect them from the onslaught of fatal substances being pushed into our communities illegally,” he stated.
He also highlighted how drug dealers often misrepresent their products: “In many cases, a child or teen believes they are purchasing one drug when in reality that drug is mixed with other illicit substances or is something else entirely.”
Smullen urged bipartisan support for passing the bill during the 2025 legislative session: “The seriousness of New York state’s fentanyl crisis cannot be understated… We must do everything in our power to protect New Yorkers and preserve our families and communities statewide.”
For more information on Assemblyman Smullen’s remarks at the press conference held on June 11, footage is available online.
