Reports of Fentanyl at a local high school have been confirmed this week.
According to Director of Schools David McClain, a powdery substance was found in a bathroom of West Greene High School on Tuesday. The substance underwent testing, and drug dogs searched the premises where nothing further was found.
Subsequent testing indeed confirmed that the substance tested positive for Fentanyl. No lasting effects from that particular incident have been reported.
McClain reported to Radio Greeneville,
“High Schools have drugs in them. No matter the severity. It is always our goal to educate parents to fully understand the risks, signs, and effects of these substances.”
McClain also said that School Resource Officers (SRO) are law enforcement officers stationed in schools to foster safety, build relationships, and respond to incidents, with the intent to ensure secure learning environments.
Teddy Lawing is the Lieutenant of Greene County SROs. He reported that since Fentanyl has been an increasing problem in the state of Tennessee, it was only a matter of time before it was found in schools.
“Drugs are a constant battle. We get constant calls from Parents, Students, and community members alike. We follow every lead and leave no stone unturned to ensure safety in our schools.” said Lawing.
The “Parent Academy” is an SRO-hosted event to educate parents on the threats and concerns of hard drugs, such as Fentanyl.
“Parents need to know who their kids are hanging out with and what they are doing. We find that is often a big component to these issues,” said Lawing.
The next Parent Academy will be hosted at Chuckey Doak High School on July 29th at 6:30 pm.
