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Student overdoses inspire Loudoun Co. to talk about the dangers of fentanyl

To date this school year, LCPS reports 10 suspected overdoses across six high schools.

STERLING, Va. — Loudoun County partners will hold a community presentation on the dangers of fentanyl on Saturday at Park View High School. This comes after ten students reportedly overdosed this school year, four inside the school in Sterling alone. 

Officials say the objective of the presentation is to provide information to parents and guardians about the dangers associated with fentanyl. The meeting will be presented in both English and Spanish.

Meeting overview:

  • Fentanyl 101:  An overview of what Fentanyl is, what it looks like in pill form, and what we are seeing with our teens.  
  • Resources available in Loudoun County.
  • Opioid Overdose Reversal Training (Revive), including knowing the signs of an opioid overdose, how to respond to an overdose, and how to use naloxone.  
  • How the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Loudoun County Public Schools, and the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services are addressing the problem.

"For today's high schoolers, the unfortunate reality is that fentanyl has infiltrated our lives," Dr. Ramia Gupta with the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services told WUSA9. 

Gupta says teens are being lured to use drugs on social media and that the counterfeit pills can be purchased online. "It's cheap, it is easily available. You can order it online quicker than we can make a trip to the grocery store."

Loudoun County officials like Gupta are urging parents and caretakers to discuss the dangers of fentanyl with their kids following the recent health emergencies at high schools in an effort to destigmatize drug use. 

Gupta recommends that parents reach out to their school or the Loudoun County Health Department if they feel they are not equipped with the information to provide to their students. 

Loudoun County's Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services also provides training on how to administer Naloxone, the medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. Jamie MacDonald who runs these monthly courses says there are still a lot of myths surrounding how people should respond to these situations. 

"Shaking, or slapping or pinching or doing really intense physical response trying to bring the person back to consciousness. When in fact, the only thing that has a chance is administering Naloxone and accessing EMS," he told WUSA9.

Several organizations will have resource tables at Saturday's event, offering information about treatment, programs, and support. 

The presentation is made possible thanks to a partnership between the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Loudoun County Public Schools, and the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services.

If you, or someone you know, has substance abuse issues there is help available. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at (800) 662-4357. 

Naloxone, commonly known as NARCAN, is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and can be purchased over the counter or requested from many health departments at no cost. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system. According to the CDC, it may be administered to people of all ages. 

Where to find Naloxone in DC, Maryland and Virginia: 

DC: Department of Behavioral Health 

Maryland: Department of Health 

Virginia: Department of Health 

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