Authorities in Hays County, Texas, are warning about the dangers of fentanyl after three students from Hays Consolidated Independent School District died as a result of overdoses in August.
Police say the three students are a 15-year-old sophomore and two 17-year-old students who would have started their senior year this month. None of the names of the deceased students were released by authorities due to the ongoing investigations.
TWO CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 5 DIE IN SEPARATE BORDER DROWNINGS ON SAME DAY
“This is a crisis situation,” said Eric Wright, superintendent for Hays Consolidated Independent School District, at a press conference.
Wright announced the three drug-related deaths and said they are taking more preventive measures through support and education in an email to parents, students, and staff.
Police say they have noticed a trend of more fentanyl overdoses and are warning how it is destroying the community.
“The Kyle Police Department started noticing a trend in January of 2022. Since that time, we have lost seven people to fentanyl overdoses — that we believe are related to fentanyl overdoses,” said Jeff Barnett, chief of police at the Kyle Police Department. “When detectives are on the scene, and we find pieces of the pill and remnants of the drug laying around the body, and then we do toxicology, and interview witnesses, and find out what that person’s been up to, we can come to a good conclusion that these drugs are harming our children and our adults in the community.”
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The number of overdose deaths from synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, was 71,238 in 2021, an increase of 13,404 deaths compared to 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
