Mercer Times

Virginia's First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and New Jersey's First Lady Tammy Murphy visited the Health Sciences Academy at Bayside High School in Virginia Beach to promote awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Their visit is part of a bipartisan effort to address the fentanyl crisis through education and awareness initiatives.

The event included a student-led tour, a rapid REVIVE! training session, and round-table discussions with students and educators about substance use disorders and the risks associated with fentanyl. This initiative follows National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, where many first spouses joined Youngkin and Murphy in their awareness efforts.

First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin emphasized the severity of the issue, stating, "Fentanyl doesn’t discriminate and on average we are losing five Virginians a day to the synthetic opioid." She highlighted that education and awareness are crucial for saving lives.

First Lady Tammy Murphy noted the widespread impact of the opioid crisis: “Too many families have felt the pain of losing a loved one to the opioid crisis, which has tragically reached all corners of our country.” She stressed the importance of raising awareness about tools like naloxone.

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly remarked on peer influence among teens: “Teens need to know that it only takes one pill to change their lives forever.”

VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. expressed gratitude for the First Ladies' involvement: “We appreciate the first ladies of Virginia and New Jersey for speaking to our students and staff about this important topic.” He reiterated that awareness and education are key defenses against opioid misuse.

The visit coincides with Governor Youngkin’s announcement regarding expanding the "It Only Takes One" fentanyl awareness initiative across Virginia after its successful pilot phase.