LOWELL — The City Council is asking the school system to incorporate opioid education in classrooms in the latest effort to cut down on a deadly and worsening drug epidemic.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday to have its substance-abuse subcommittee assemble a plan for how to best incorporate opioid education in Lowell schools.

The plan, put in place by a motion by Corey Belanger, follows a report last week that Lowell has had 42 fatal opioid overdoses this year. In September, the city averaged 2.1 daily overdoses of opioids, such as heroin and OxyContin.

Belanger cited that “rather grim information,” saying “we continue to be hit very, very hard.”

“This is long overdue,” he said.

Other councilors also called for more education in schools as one of several ways the city will need to take action to fight the deadly issue.

“It’s time that we take action and do this,” John Leahy said. “We’ve been asking for this for years, and it’s time to do it.”

Rita Mercier called the epidemic “a frightening situation.”

“We’re just darn sick of people dying,” she said.

Mayor Rodney Elliott, who also serves as chairman of the School Committee, said he will file a motion with the committee next week to spur action on that front.

In other action Tuesday, the council also approved the following actions:

— Transferring $78,605 from a contingency fund to pay for an operational analysis of the Fire Department to provide a blueprint for improvements; reimburse for advertising costs related to the search for a new city auditor; and reimburse costs for a new scoreboard at Cawley Stadium. Donations are expected to cover the $24,605 cost for the scoreboard.

— Requesting the city manager’s office work with the proper department to provide a report about 118 gas leaks that have been reported in the city, including potential risks to the public, the economic impact on customers, and any proposed schedules for repairing gas leaks.

— Requesting the city manager’s office allow for a dedication of a stone at Fels Playground on Riverside Street to honor Patricia Boutin, Thomas Brogdon, Marilyn Evans and Bernard Gill, four people killed in an explosion in Pawtucketville in 1972.

— Requesting the city manager’s office instruct the Department of Public Works consider alternative methods of removing snow from narrow streets in the city, particularly in Back Central and Centralville.

— Requesting the city manager’s office have the proper department install a new Parkview Avenue sign at the corner of Rogers Street and Parkview Avenue.

Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker.