Multiple students overdose on fentanyl at Yuma-area high schools
The national opioid epidemic is now hitting Yuma-area high schools.
A fifteen-year-old was sent to the hospital after a suspected fentanyl overdose Wednesday while at school, according to the Yuma Police Department.
The Yuma Fire Department responded to the incident and said the blue pills are deceiving.
“The markings lead a person to believe they’re oxycodone,” said Mike Erfert, Yuma Fire Department public information officer.
A verified source confirmed that the fifteen-year-old attends Yuma High School.
However, Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) said it cannot confirm this incident happened at any school in their district.
Our verified source claimed this is the second incident that has happened in the last two weeks at Yuma High.
Before this incident happened, the Yuma Union High School District did weigh in on drug abuse throughout schools.
“When you ask the question is this a particular pill that our parents should be worried about? Any sort of substance abuse our parents should be worried,” explained Tim Brienza, YUHSD’s associate superintendent.
A senior who attends Yuma High said he has not personally seen the drugs floating around but has seen it on social media.
His advice to his classmates is to make better choices.
“Stay away from drugs. It’s not good. It can lead to worse drugs,” said one Yuma High senior.
The Yuma Fire department explained the reactions people are having to these pills.
“The nature of the fentanyl pills that have been seen just led people to not knowing what the reactions are going to be. Those reactions that have been seen…unconsciousness and respiratory arrest. They stop breathing and you’ve got a pretty short amount of time to respond to something like that,” said Erfert.
In this case, Narcan was used, which is a nasal spray that serves as an antidote for someone in an overdose state. All law enforcement carry Narcan on them.
