During the summer of 2022, the communities in Hays CISD began to see an increase in overdoses, poisonings, and deaths related to fentanyl. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often the ingredient used in counterfeit pills purchased on the street – sold as something else like Xanax, Percocet, or oxycodone. Quite often, in cases involving fentanyl, people who take the drug have no idea they are taking it. In the drug trade, fentanyl is a cheap alternative to other synthetic opioids and it takes so very little to kill.  

Sadly, during the summer and first week of school in 2022, four Hays CISD students died from fentanyl poisoning, or suspected poisoning. By the end of the 2022 - 2023 school year, the number of Hays CISD students who died from fentanyl poisoning had risen to six. In October 2023, a seventh student died. Additionally, students have overdosed on the drug both at school and at home. Given the direct effect on our school district and our students, Hays CISD has committed to keeping the fentanyl conversation open and ongoing. 

"I'm worried. We take all safety and security issues very seriously, but this one is especially concerning. We must treat the fentanyl crisis with urgency,"

Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright  

What is Hays CISD Doing?

To help fight the fentanyl problem, Hays CISD is:

  • Partnering with local law enforcement, emergency management, and health authorities to monitor and collaborate on the best way to combat the crisis. 

  • Stocking Narcan at all campuses – through the nurses’ offices and school resource officers (SROs) from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. Narcan, administered quickly enough, can help reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose.

  • Providing in-school assemblies and learning opportunities so that students can understand the dangers of fentanyl

  • Continually training nursing staff, counselors, the Hays CISD safety and security team, curriculum and instruction leaders, and principals regarding the latest fentanyl information.

  • Creating educational materials about fentanyl, including videos and posters (and sharing them with other school districts and agencies)

  • Speaking with media and at training conferences to share the district's story in hopes that others may learn and prevent future deaths and overdoses.  

What Can You Do?

To help fight the fentanyl problem, you can:

  • Talk to your children. Tell them that ANY pill they get from a friend or purchased online or off of the street could be a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl. Only take medication that was prescribed by a doctor, purchased at a pharmacy, and approved by parents or guardians.   

  • Learn about the fentanyl crisis and help spread the word that this is a dangerous situation. Visit the Centers for Disease Control website’s Fentanyl Facts page as a starting-point.

  • Ensure that your child delivers all medications, including over-the-counter medications, to the school nurse for distribution. Students should not carry any medications with them at school, nor share them for any reason.   

  • Reach out to your school nurse or counselor with any specific concerns, or if you need additional resources that are unique to your family.

Help!

Students - help is available for you and your friends:

Visit the Outreach and Reporting Page

Resources:

Fighting Fentanyl Videos
Fighting Fentanyl Posters
Fentanyl Campaign Report: Year 1
Forever 15 Project
Song for Charlie
DEA (Fentanyl)
CDC (Fentanyl)
Texas.gov (Fentanyl)
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