MCPS to Address Opioid/Fentanyl Crisis

[Anonymous]

MCPS announcing a press event where the district is set to make some kind of statement about the ongoing opioid/fentanyl crisis that is wreaking havoc across MCPS high schools:

https://twitter.com/MCPS/status/1616065440530276353

Best Case Scenario: The school district will demonstrate effective leadership and outline a meaningful, actionable plan that addresses how it will address the issue from a holistic perspective, which means security AND recovery.

Most Likely Scenario: A bunch of hopes, prayers and toothless verbal diarrhea that repeats obvious drivel like, "Parents, tell your kids about the risk of illegal drug use!" or "Talk to your kids!"

So far, multiple kids have died in MCPS from drug overdoses in recent years. Most recently, on Jan. 14, a student from John F. Kennedy High School died. Who knows how many overdoses at school, as MCPS doesn't publicly share that data.

The medical arm of MCPS has spoken quite a bit about Narcan and Montgomery Goes Purple offers resources for students who decide to get help: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/12/15/urgent-message-from-mcps-warns-of-increased-fentanyl-overdoses/

But it's been total crickets on the security side and how MCPS plans on intercepting the use of drugs on its school campuses.

[Anonymous]

I'm just glad they're addressing it. My husband and I come from a wealthy European country and our schools (public and private) never taught us anything about drugs. We really appreciate the breadth of subjects MCPS covers, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

For those who missed it

[Anonymous]

They can’t even stop the vaping happening in front of their faces, how are they going to manage drug use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just glad they're addressing it. My husband and I come from a wealthy European country and our schools (public and private) never taught us anything about drugs. We really appreciate the breadth of subjects MCPS covers, to be honest.

Same! I wasn't aware this is a big problem facing students today but it's also outside of my personal experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can’t even stop the vaping happening in front of their faces, how are they going to manage drug use?

+1 yes!!!

[Anonymous]

So....after watching the full presser, I appreciate them spreading the information on the severity of the issue, noting the uptick in fatal and non-fatal overdoses among youth and the availability of NARCAN.

But there was NOTHING about what MCPS and MCPD would do IMMEDIATELY to stop these drugs from getting on school campuses and to intervene and prevent kids from using at school.

I don't mind that they don't want to "arrest" their way out of the situation, but that means MCPS's disciplinary arm needs to stand up a distinct initiative or focus to identify, interrupt the drug use and get those kids into the robust recovery and treatment options MCPS and MoCo are throwing at the problem.

Where is the prioritization of non-substance abusing kids to be able to go to school and NOT be assaulted by the smells and sights of drug use and drug paraphernalia or from the trauma of seeing a classmate overdose in front of them? The kids who use aren't the only ones impacted mental healthwise. When their drug use is allowed on school campuses, they're inflicting mental harm on their classmates and staff as well!

Where's the action? Where's the plan? Where's the sense of urgency to tighten and strengthen security and monitoring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can’t even stop the vaping happening in front of their faces, how are they going to manage drug use?

Maybe it's just me but suggesting that it's somehow wasteful to raise awareness of a serious problem because of your whataboutery seems myopic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So....after watching the full presser, I appreciate them spreading the information on the severity of the issue, noting the uptick in fatal and non-fatal overdoses among youth and the availability of NARCAN.

But there was NOTHING about what MCPS and MCPD would do IMMEDIATELY to stop these drugs from getting on school campuses and to intervene and prevent kids from using at school.

I don't mind that they don't want to "arrest" their way out of the situation, but that means MCPS's disciplinary arm needs to stand up a distinct initiative or focus to identify, interrupt the drug use and get those kids into the robust recovery and treatment options MCPS and MoCo are throwing at the problem.

Where is the prioritization of non-substance abusing kids to be able to go to school and NOT be assaulted by the smells and sights of drug use and drug paraphernalia or from the trauma of seeing a classmate overdose in front of them? The kids who use aren't the only ones impacted mental healthwise. When their drug use is allowed on school campuses, they're inflicting mental harm on their classmates and staff as well!

Where's the action? Where's the plan? Where's the sense of urgency to tighten and strengthen security and monitoring?

Add strip/cavity searches to the metal detectors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So....after watching the full presser, I appreciate them spreading the information on the severity of the issue, noting the uptick in fatal and non-fatal overdoses among youth and the availability of NARCAN.

But there was NOTHING about what MCPS and MCPD would do IMMEDIATELY to stop these drugs from getting on school campuses and to intervene and prevent kids from using at school.

I don't mind that they don't want to "arrest" their way out of the situation, but that means MCPS's disciplinary arm needs to stand up a distinct initiative or focus to identify, interrupt the drug use and get those kids into the robust recovery and treatment options MCPS and MoCo are throwing at the problem.

Where is the prioritization of non-substance abusing kids to be able to go to school and NOT be assaulted by the smells and sights of drug use and drug paraphernalia or from the trauma of seeing a classmate overdose in front of them? The kids who use aren't the only ones impacted mental healthwise. When their drug use is allowed on school campuses, they're inflicting mental harm on their classmates and staff as well!

Where's the action? Where's the plan? Where's the sense of urgency to tighten and strengthen security and monitoring?

Add strip/cavity searches to the metal detectors?

So the status quo is ok with you? Kids should go to school coughing on burnt percocet smoke and witness their classmates seizing and vomitting as they overdose? That's just ok by you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can’t even stop the vaping happening in front of their faces, how are they going to manage drug use?

Maybe it's just me but suggesting that it's somehow wasteful to raise awareness of a serious problem because of your whataboutery seems myopic.

I’m not that PP but I guess I’m just not sure how much it helps for the school to spread this message. My kids are basically rule following geeks and even they openly mock anything that MCPS conveys about health. They think everything McPS says is supremely stupid, and they also know most kids ignore it. They would also really love to be able to use the restroom without kids occupying the stalls to use drugs, which makes it hard to actually pee or change your tampon. I feel like McPS spends a lot of time conveying messages that kids don’t want to hear from them. But maybe that’s just inevitable with teens and schools.

[Anonymous]

There isn't much MCPS can do to stop it. Let's be real. At some point parents also need to parent their kids and handle these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn't much MCPS can do to stop it. Let's be real. At some point parents also need to parent their kids and handle these things.

So many parents seem to feel differently and expect the county to raise their kids for them these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So....after watching the full presser, I appreciate them spreading the information on the severity of the issue, noting the uptick in fatal and non-fatal overdoses among youth and the availability of NARCAN.

But there was NOTHING about what MCPS and MCPD would do IMMEDIATELY to stop these drugs from getting on school campuses and to intervene and prevent kids from using at school.

I don't mind that they don't want to "arrest" their way out of the situation, but that means MCPS's disciplinary arm needs to stand up a distinct initiative or focus to identify, interrupt the drug use and get those kids into the robust recovery and treatment options MCPS and MoCo are throwing at the problem.

Where is the prioritization of non-substance abusing kids to be able to go to school and NOT be assaulted by the smells and sights of drug use and drug paraphernalia or from the trauma of seeing a classmate overdose in front of them? The kids who use aren't the only ones impacted mental healthwise. When their drug use is allowed on school campuses, they're inflicting mental harm on their classmates and staff as well!

Where's the action? Where's the plan? Where's the sense of urgency to tighten and strengthen security and monitoring?

Add strip/cavity searches to the metal detectors?

So the status quo is ok with you? Kids should go to school coughing on burnt percocet smoke and witness their classmates seizing and vomitting as they overdose? That's just ok by you?

How do you suggest MCPS act to "IMMEDIATELY ... stop these drugs from getting on school campuses and to intervene and prevent kids from using at school"?

[Anonymous]

This is just more feel good messaging with no real good action. My daughter just texted me to say that somebody was smoking weed in the gym.