San Luis PD: More opioid overdoses this year than last year altogether

The city of San L uis has already had more opioid overdoses this year than in all of 2018 serving as a sign that the national opioid crisis has hit us here at home.

“This pill and stuff like this shouldn’t be something a child or teen of my age could get easily,” explained one San Luis High School student.

The San Luis Police Department said last year they saw a total of 12 overdoses and this year they have already surpassed that number with a total of 13 overdoses.

The San Luis Fire Department said they responded to 16 overdoses in 2018 and 15 so far this year.

One of those overdoses was a 17-year-old high school student.

A classmate explained he has seen student use drugs in the classroom.

“I’ve seen a girl take a drug, which was like a pill, but she like snorted it,” said the student.

To reverse those overdoses police use Narcan, a nasal spray used to stop opioid overdoses.

Police said they have had to use as many as four doses of N arcan to revive those who have taken these blue fentanyl pills.

The pills are described as having an “M” and a “30” on them, according to Chief Richard Jessup.

He added they are made Mexico and smuggled illegally into our region.

Police are now being proactive and are working to educate high school and middle schoolers so they begin to stay away.

“The biggest message that we can face is the message of choice and the message of getting good educations of making those types of choices. I can either make the choice to take the pill or I can make the choice to not take the pill. It’s the greatest power we all possess,” said San Luis Chief Jessup.

He added the goal is to get students to keep their minds off of drugs by focusing on their future goals.