Loudoun County, Virginia - In a disturbing trend, Park View High School in Loudoun County has reported a total of nine opioid-related overdoses this year, with eight occurring within the past three weeks alone. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office initially announced on Tuesday that eight students had experienced overdoses, four of which tragically occurred within the school premises.

Adding to the concerning statistics, a ninth student suffered an overdose off campus on Tuesday night. Fortunately, the student was revived after receiving immediate CPR. The usage of Narcan, an anti-overdose medication, remains unclear at this time.

Out of the students who overdosed at the school, three received Narcan, and school staff administered CPR to two of them. Authorities suspect the involvement of fentanyl in these cases, commonly found in counterfeit forms of oxycodone, particularly in blue, circular pills marked with an "M."

Amy Riccardi, a candidate running for the Sterling district seat on the Loudoun County School Board, emphasized the need for transparency, stating, "They don't have to disclose specific details, but parents need to be aware of the fentanyl problem at Park View." Riccardi recalled an incident where a student required both Narcan and an automated external defibrillator (AED) during the day, with no official acknowledgement from the superintendent during a listening session held on the same day.

Responding to the alarming situation, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office has deployed additional resources to the high school to investigate the source and distribution of the drugs involved.

According to the sheriff's office, there have been a total of 19 juvenile opioid overdoses reported so far this year in Loudoun County, surpassing the entirety of 2022. In response, Loudoun County Public Schools has announced the distribution of naloxone, an anti-overdose drug, to high schools and staff training sessions on its usage.

News4 has reached out to the school system for further information regarding the timing of each individual overdose and parental notification. As of now, no response has been received. The community remains deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the students at Park View High School and demands immediate action to address the fentanyl problem.

As this crisis unfolds, authorities and school officials must work collaboratively to educate students about the dangers of opioids, implement preventive measures, and provide necessary support to those affected by this growing epidemic.