Hays district student dies in suspected fentanyl overdose, officials say
Police believe a Hays school district student's death over the winter break might be connected to a fentanyl overdose, the district said Monday.
The district also announced three additional cases of suspected fentanyl poisonings among students during the winter break, from Dec. 17 to Jan. 3.
The district's announcement is the latest in a string of fentanyl-related cases among students in Hays County and part of an increasing trend in Central Texas that has law enforcement officials concerned.
About 12:30 p.m. Jan. 3, a family member found a 14-year-old girl unconscious in her bedroom in her Blanco Vista neighborhood home, San Marcos Police Department spokeswoman Lauren Surley said.
The girl’s family administered CPR and emergency responders arrived, but the girl died, Surley said.
Investigators are still awaiting results from a toxicology report, but they believe the girl's death might be an accidental narcotics overdose, Surley said.
The school district in a statement clarified that law enforcement officials suspect the death is connected to fentanyl poisoning.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is more powerful than heroin but can mimic its effects. In health care, the drug is used to treat severe pain. Fentanyl is sold as a pill, powder or patch, and small doses of it can be lethal.
“This is a crisis that has touched every high school in our district and half of our middle schools,” Hays district Superintendent Eric Wright said in a statement. “We can never forget that each and every incident involves a precious child – a student who has parents, siblings and friends and who is part of our greater school district family.”
If fentanyl is involved, the 14-year-old girl's death will be the fifth Hays student who has died from fentanyl-related causes since the end of the 2021-22 school year, according to the district.
At least 10 fentanyl-related deaths – including the four confirmed to include Hays district students – have been reported in Hays County since July, according to the Hays County sheriff’s office.
In September, Hays schools launched a public service announcement and series of educational videos to increase awareness and educate students, staff and families about the fentanyl crisis.
Those efforts stepped up early in the school year and are continuing, district spokesman Tim Savoy said.
“We all never expected we’d know this much about fentanyl,” Savoy said. “It’s been something that’s touched home for us this year. We’re owning that this is a community problem and we’re a part of that.”
The district is trying to reach parents through testimonials from other parents and students affected by fentanyl cases, Savoy said.
The district is also trying to educate students about common myths associated with fentanyl and encouraging students to seek help if they’re suffering from substance addiction, he said.
“It’s here and it’s real,” Savoy said. “We all are going to have to step up and do something about it.”
Other Central Texas area school districts have increased their focus on combating fentanyl use among students. The Austin district in November stocked its campuses with Narcan, a nasal spray that treats narcotic overdoses. Other districts, such as Eanes, have hosted meetings to spread awareness of parents and students about the narcotic.
If the 14-year-old’s death is confirmed to be fentanyl-related, she will be the youngest victim among Hays student deaths related to the narcotic.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas student dies in suspected fentanyl overdose, officials say
