LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is issuing a warning to families about the dangers of fentanyl amid an increase in student overdoses this school year.
To date this school year, LCPS reports 10 suspected overdoses across six high schools. In comparison, four incidents required naloxone administration to students during the entire 2022-23 school year. This means ten students were taken for treatment of symptoms related to a suspected opioid overdose and four of those 10 students had one or more doses of Naloxone (Narcan) administered (three students at Park View High School and one student at Dominion High School).
According to a news release, the six schools where suspected overdoses have taken place this year are: Broad Run, Briar Woods, Dominion, Loudoun County, Park View, and Tuscarora High Schools.
"This number is concerning and distressing, and we will do everything in our power to ensure this does not continue. Please know that we take this issue seriously," says Superintendent Aaron Spence. "We have processes in our schools for screening students suspected of drug use. Every time we become aware of suspected drug use or an overdose in our schools, we work directly with our parents and with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office to investigate and address the incident. And we will continue to collaborate with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office as well as other agencies to identify needed resources and supports for all of our schools.
Spence goes on to explain that this isn't just a school issue, but a local, state, and national one as well.
"Schools reflect what is occurring in the community at large, which means this epidemic goes beyond our school walls. While it is often difficult to say exactly where students are getting these drugs and using them, we do know that some of these students are ingesting drugs prior to school and suffering the effects while in school," says Spence.
He urges parents and guardians to speak to their students about the dangers of fentanyl or taking any substance not given to them by their own parent, guardian, or doctor.
A recent DEA public health alert notes that “laboratory testing indicates 7 out of every 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.” The drug is often added to other drugs that look like legitimate prescription opioids, or mixed into powders or nasal sprays.
LCPS is taking several steps to support our students, staff and community.
- Naloxone. We want to let you know that LCPS has Naloxone available at every secondary school in the division (high schools and middle schools). Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. LCPS employees are trained to administer this medication and all School Resource Officers for Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Leesburg Police Department carry it as well.
- Community Educational Events. Please check our LCPS calendar.
- The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office will host an informational session this Saturday, Nov. 4 at 10:30 a.m., Park View High School, about fentanyl that will include education on how to administer Naloxone.
- We are currently working with Loudoun County Mental Health and The Williams Center for school and community-based events. Dates, times and community locations are forthcoming.
- Extra Security Presence. We are working with our law enforcement partners to maintain extra security on our campuses and we have added LCPS Safety & Security support.
To find information and resources to help you understand more and speak with your student about the dangers associated with Fentanyl visit the LCPS Drug Awareness webpage.
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