Cleveland ISD hands out NARCAN medication to parents amid student drug-use concerns
CLEVELAND, Texas (KTRK) -- The drug overdose medication NARCAN was given to parents at Cleveland ISD during a community meeting Wednesday night.
This comes after more than a dozen drug cases, including overdoses, have happened in the district this school year.
The issue with overdoses is so concerning that Superintendent Stephen McCanless went on the district's YouTube channel to tell parents about students using fake Percocet pills laced with fentanyl and warn them about the deadly consequences.
"We want students to know that what they think is fun is actually extremely dangerous, and we want everyone to be aware of the risk that they are taking. And parents, community - we cannot do this without your help and support," McCanless said.
Cleveland ISD officials said they want parents to know this is real and dangerous, saying more than a dozen drug-related cases have happened on school grounds since August. McCanless said he wants parents to know about the problem and be equipped to help a child if they are having an overdose.
RELATED: Overdose drugs being disposed of, keeping Cleveland ISD police from testing them, district says
Wednesday's meeting was held at the Cleveland Civic Center, where the district handed out NARCAN.
Another public meeting with city leaders and public health officials will be on Oct. 23 at Santa Fe Middle School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The district also plans to hand out NARCAN at the second meeting on a first-come, first-served basis.
"We are going to all ends in Cleveland ISD to connect with our parents and the community to help attack this problem that has been going on recently here in Cleveland ISD," McCanless said. "We want to raise awareness to these dangers."
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RELATED: Cleveland ISD wages fight against drugs after facing several overdoses: 'Matter of life or death'
