Local school district combats fentanyl crisis

The San Luis Police Department ( SLPD ) and Gadsden School Elementary School District 32 are partnering up for a cop program to help educate parents and students on the dangers of drugs.

Although authorities have not seen drug-related problems at middle schools, the cop program is designed to help educate students on the dangers of drugs.

Chief Richard Jessup from the SLPD said, ” If you are going to say no to drugs and alcohol then what are you going to say yes to? and we have to have an alternative for that. ”

In the last year, chief Jessup said authorities have confiscated over 7,000 of the M-30 pills. Half of one pill is enough to kill someone.

Chief Jessup emphasizes programs like these are extremely important to help prevent tragedies like this from happening.

“That we get two full-time officers, one for each campus that way they are really dedicated to staff students, parents to deal with the issues that come up in that campus.”

Authorities said in the last two months there have not been any fentanyl overdoses in San Luis, compared to the beginning of the year where police were seeing at least three to four cases a week. ” When you look at the fentanyl issue and the opioid it’s not just a local issue it problem nation-wide affecting every community with the United States, ” chief Jessup added.

The cop program will not only focus on drug awareness but other educational programs for students and parents.