October, 2022
Walnut Valley Unified School District (WVUSD) is aware of concerns regarding the use of fentanyl by adolescents across Los Angeles County and the State of California. As part of ongoing efforts to keep the health and well-being of your child(ren) and our school community a top priority, WVUSD is providing this notification so that families are aware of the fentanyl crisis, the intervention and prevention strategies being implemented in WVUSD, and relevant information that may be utilized for keeping students and the school community safe.
- What is fentanyl?
- Fentanyl is a high potency synthetic opioid that is colorless and odorless and can cause rapid respiratory depression resulting in accidental death. It is both a prescribed drug, as well as a drug that is used illegally. All medication that is not from a doctor or pharmacy should be considered unsafe and suspicious for having fentanyl.
- Illegally manufactured fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into counterfeit pills that look like other prescription opioids. Importantly, fentanyl is also being mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
- WVUSD’s Intervention & Prevention Strategies
- WVUSD is currently in the process of establishing a stock Naloxone program.
- Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time.
- WVUSD is in the process of preparing training for site employee volunteers as it relates to Naloxone implementation.
- As part of an ongoing commitment to social emotional wellness, WVUSD is actively encouraging students to visit our school counselors when feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
- Tips for Parents and Guardians to Talk About Drug Use with their Child(ren)
- Parents and guardians should be prepared, get informed, and have some background knowledge on fentanyl, and substance use before starting the conversation with their child(ren).
- Parents and guardians should use honest language that emphasizes their family values and concerns around drug use.
- Conversations that are open and consider your child(ren)’s understanding and experiences are more effective than lecturing and utilizing scare tactics.
- Parents and guardians should initiate age-appropriate conversations with their children about substance use.
If your child is struggling and you would like to speak with someone about this, please contact the counselor, SSRA, or GLC at their home school. The District will do all that it can to provide you with additional support for your child. For additional resources, please note the links below: