Fentanyl Presentation Comes To Park View HS After Students Overdose

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A fentanyl prevention and awareness presentation is coming to Park View High School on Saturday morning. The event will feature speakers from the county sheriff's office, the school system, and mental health experts.

Earlier this week, the sheriff's office announced that eight Park View students had suffered fentanyl overdoses so far this year. Four of the overdoses occurred at the school's Sterling campus.

Saturday's event will begin at 10:30 a.m. "The objective is to provide valuable information to parents and caregivers about the dangers associated with fentanyl," county officials said in a news release.

The event will include descriptions of what fentanyl is, what addiction resources are available, and how to prevent, reverse, and identify overdoses.

“We know the overwhelming number of Park View students are responsible and care about the safety of their school, and we are putting all available resources into identifying who is responsible for distributing these lethal drugs,” Sheriff Mike Chapman said in a news release about the recent overdoses. “We have also encouraged LCPS to continue its communications with the Park View community and have offered our assistance with additional educational and security measures."

Investigators believe the recent student overdoses involved counterfeit 3o mg Oxycodone pills. The counterfeit pills often contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, authorities said. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is cheap to produce. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that 70 percent of pills seized by law enforcement contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Aaron Spence is the superintendent for Loudoun County Public Schools.

"I am concerned and saddened by this crisis impacting the Park View community,” Spence said. "LCPS is taking active steps to support our students, families and staff with fentanyl awareness and education, including training and supplying staff in each of our high schools with Naloxone for emergencies. This week, Park View families received a message with information and resources, and school leadership is holding grade-level assemblies and parent meetings."

Spence said the school system is also sending additional resources to Park View High School. The campus will have additional administrators, counselors, and security staff.

"I think it is important to note that the issue of addiction is truly at play here. When students come to school, we want them to learn and thrive. But, most of all we want them to live," Spence said. "We must, as a community, come together to find ways to help our young people who are facing these issues."

On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order that would require school systems to notify parents of overdose incidents within 24 hours. Youngkin's office claimed the Loudoun school system waited 20 days to officially notify parents.

"Parents have a right to know what’s going on in their child's lives, especially in schools," Youngkin said in a news release. "Overdoses that occur on school grounds or are connected to the school must lead to an immediate parental notification."

Youngkin's order also instructs the state's education department to issue guidance to school systems, requiring them to educate students about the dangers of drug abuse.

"Opioid overdoses have claimed the lives of far too many Virginians, devastating families and communities across the Commonwealth and we must continue to combat opioid abuse and overdoses with action and transparency," Youngkin said.

Loudoun County residents can receive free Naloxone training through the REVIVE! program. Information about upcoming classes is available online.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a national helpline for people struggling with addiction at 800-662-4357. Additional resources are available online.