Loudoun Schools To Host Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Events

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun County Public Schools are hosting several information sessions at area high schools to raise awareness about fentanyl use and overdoses.

In a news release, the school system said it hopes the sessions will help parents and community members understand the dangers of fentanyl.

Each session will include speakers from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, the Williams Center for Wellness and Recovery, the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun, and LCPS’ Student Assistance Services. The speakers will discuss prevention methods, signs of drug use, and how to reverse an overdose through the use of naloxone, also known as NARCAN.

Here are the dates and locations for the upcoming sessions:

• Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
  • Loudoun County High School
• Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
  • Independence High School
• Tuesday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
  • Woodgrove High School
• Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m.
  • Broad Run High School

Jennifer Evans is the director of student mental health services for Loudoun County Public Schools. "It is imperative that our community educate parents, provide strategies on how they can talk with their children, and let them know of the available school-based support and community resources," Evans said in a news release.

The Loudoun school system has already stocked NARCAN at each of the county's middle and high schools. School resource officers also carry their own naloxone.

"LCPS is also increasing training opportunities for school administrators, directors of school counseling and athletic directors and to learn how to administer NARCAN," the school system said in a news release.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-662-4357.