Parents would be notified of student overdoses within 24 hours under an executive order issued by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The order comes in response to overdoses in Loudoun County Public Schools. The school system said suspected overdoses occurred at six high schools this year, according to a letter to families from Superintendent Aaron Spence. Spence identified the schools as Broad Run, Briar Woods, Dominion, Loudoun County, Park View, and Tuscarora high schools.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said this week overdoses at Park View High School are under investigation. Students there took fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid drug.
Youngkin’s order directs the state superintendent of instruction and the Department of Education to notify parents of a school-connected overdose within 24 hours. The department would work closely with law enforcement to prevent overdoses.
“Parents have a right to know what’s going on in their child’s lives, especially in schools. Overdoses that occur on school grounds or are connected to the school must lead to an immediate parental notification,” Youngkin said, in a news release.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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