The use of fentanyl has risen in Texas, with an average of 5 people dying from fentanyl usage a day. Fentanyl usage occurred last year at Hebron; the staff plans to help students avoid drug usage by setting more rules, being hyper aware of symptoms and even holding an awareness forum about fentanyl on Oct. 25.
“I don’t really feel like fentanyl was on our radar until the beginning of last year,” principal Amy Boughton said. “We heard that it was starting to make its way to a lot of local dealers, and it was being distributed.”
Boughton said that last year, Hebron High School had 39 expulsions to the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP) after students were charged with felony possession. She said there were also 19-23 minor possession charges that went to Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP.) In total, there were 50 students who ended up in an alternative placement program due to a drug offense.
“We know that students make mistakes, and so once they’ve served their time at JJAEP or DAEP for drugs, we try to transition them back to school,” Boughton said.
All staff members are trained to call administration if they suspect a student is under the influence. To make sure that students are well-informed about the dangers of fentanyl, Hebron is having a fentanyl awareness night on Oct. 25 for parents.
“When we are dealing with major drugs, especially a drug like fentanyl, [it’s] something that our administration wants certain groups to be aware of so [that] we can respond and have awareness about [it],” lead counselor Justin Fields said.
The school also offers counseling opportunities for students that were sent to these alternative schools and their families, and counselors do check-ups at the schools.
“We’re trying to limit (repeat offenses),” student assistance counselor Stephanie Bañuelos said. “We want to make sure that people who go once don’t go back. [Meeting students at JJAEP or DAEP] would be something we would look at to see how we support students overall.”
At the fentanyl awareness panel on Oct. 25 from 6-7:30 p.m., there will be substance abuse counselors, school resource officer Tanner Low, two parents of overdose survivors and medical professionals. Parents will also have the chance to ask questions about the drug.
“I will always want to educate our students on drug awareness,” Boughton said. “I think we have to keep an increased awareness about drugs like fentanyl and other drugs that could kill you.”
Along with them, the student council will also make sure the students know what each day covers during Red Ribbon Week. There will be advisory lessons from the district that every student in LISD will receive, and the yearbook is planning to feature a spread about drug abuse in this year’s edition.
“We try to make sure that people know that this is serious,” yearbook staff member Juliana Siegel said. “It’s something that everyone should pay attention to.”
Boughton said the goal of Red Ribbon Week is so that both teachers and students will be more aware of how easily one could pass away due to drug abuse.
“The part that scares me about fentanyl the most is that even people who are seeking out those innocent attempts in experimentation [can get hurt],” Fields said. “People seem to be at a greater risk for consuming [something] that they have no intention of doing, [and] with that comes the risk of death.”
