Three Chiefland Middle High School teens experienced near-fatal drug overdoses Thursday on the way to school, according to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office report said the students included two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old. Authorities did not release their names, gender, or other identifying information, but said both the sheriff’s office and the Levy County School Board are conducting investigations into the matter.
The incident occurred as the three teens were on a bus en route to school.
“All three began suffering symptoms of the overdose as they arrived at school and were immediately taken to the on campus Medical building,” the sheriff’s office reported. “These three students are assigned to the Focus program and do not have interaction with mainstream students, thankfully lessening the chances of others being exposed.”
School Resource Deputy John Gulledge and EMS responded to the school’s medical building, where Gulledge used Narcan to revive one of the students. Paramedics also had to use Narcan on one of the other students.
“All three students have been transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment and observation,” the sheriff’s office reported.
School officials alerted the parents of the students and “took precautions to ensure the safety of students in the impacted areas. Medical personnel checked the students who were present and none reported symptoms of exposure.”
According to the sheriff’s office, all three students are expected to make a full recovery but could face criminal charges and discipline from the school district.
“Our drug task force members are already on top of this,” Lt. Scott Tummond said in a phone interview. “Obviously we want to know how our students got their hands on meth and got to school with it.”
Tummond said all three students tested positive for methamphetamine.
“Meth is not in the opioid group, so we’re a little confused why the Narcan we used had the desired affect,” Tummond said. “We did not get a positive test for fentanyl. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if we find out. What matters is that the medical staff know what they’re dealing with.”
I hope this wake up call turns their lives around before it’s too late…