VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Following a concerning series of drug overdoses within the state’s schools, Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin has issued an executive order requiring schools to notify parents of school-related overdoses.
In just the last month, nine students have overdosed at Loudoun County high school in Leesburg, Virginia. Governor Youngkin says that the school reportedly waited more than twenty days to notify parents.
“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,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Under the new order, that notification must happen within 24 hours. School administrators also need to work closely with law enforcement to prevent overdoses and improve student education about the dangers of abusing drugs.
“School administrators’ first instinct when there is a problem cannot be to delay relevant information on critical children’s health and safety matters – it must be passed on to parents immediately. 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,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
According to WVEC, school officials believe that all of the overdoses are linked to fentanyl. Four students required emergency opioid medication, while two students received CPR.
Just last month, Emily’s Hope reported on a concerning rise in the number of babies and toddlers succumbing to fentanyl-related deaths, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the fentanyl crisis.
