• Fentanyl Information

    During the summer of 2022, the communities in neighboring counties began to see an increase in overdoses, poisonings, and deaths related to fentanyl. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often the ingredient used in counterfeit pills purchased on the street – sold as something else like Xanax, Percocet, or oxycodone. Quite often, in cases involving fentanyl, people who take the drug have no idea they are taking it. In the drug trade, fentanyl is a cheap alternative to other synthetic opioids and it takes so very little to kill.  

     

    What is South San Antonio ISD doing?

    To help fight the fentanyl problem, South San Antonio ISD is:

    • Incorporating the fentanyl awareness presentation during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month (October).

    • The district is working to supply Narcan to all campus registered nurses. SSAISD Registered Nurses will be trained on how to properly administer Narcan. Narcan is a prescribed nasal spray medication used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency with signs of breathing problems, severe sleepiness or not being able to respond. Narcan, administered quickly enough, can help reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose.

    • District nursing staff, counselors, safety and security team, curriculum and instruction leaders, and our principals and campus leaders will be working on in-school educational opportunities, which may include assemblies, homeroom discussions, posters, or other ways to inform students about fentanyl dangers.

    • SSAISD provides students mental health services, at no cost through our Care Zone.

    • SSAISD also provides our families and staff with mental health services, at no cost. All referrals are handled by one of our district partners who will then assign a licensed mental health professional to the requested individual. The sessions are available virtually or in person and Spanish-speaking counselors are also available.

    • Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, SSAISD launched an anonymous reporting program, which will allow students and parents to make anonymous reports about concerns of safety or student wellness. Our program is student-focused meaning it is a tool for alerting caring adults about students who need help. Students can use our new P3 Campus app to report: bullying, suicide concerns, depression, sexting, stealing, threats, cutting, abuse, dating and domestic violence, fights, drugs, alcohol, weapons or other types of dangerous situations that threaten their safety or the safety of others. Their reports will be addressed by a trained team of school officials and law enforcement, when necessary.

    • SSAISD Police Department enforces Drug-Free Zones throughout our district.

    What can Parents Do?

    To help fight the fentanyl problem, you can:

    • Talk to your children. Tell them that ANY pill they get from a friend or purchased online or off of the street could be a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl. Only take medication that was prescribed by a doctor, purchased at a pharmacy, and approved by parents or guardians.  

    • Learn about the fentanyl crisis and help spread the word that this is a dangerous situation. Visit the Centers for Disease Control website’s Fentanyl Facts page as a starting point: https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html) 

    • Ensure that your child delivers all medications, including over-the-counter medications, to the school nurse for distribution. Students should not carry any medications with them at school, nor share them for any reason.  

    • Reach out to your school nurse or counselor with any specific concerns, or if you need additional resources that are unique to your family. To see who your school counselor is, please click here.