The following letter was also emailed to all middle and high school parents. If you did not receive the email, please check with your school to be sure we have your correct email in our communication system.
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
As you may know, there is a growing concern regarding teens and young people using what they believe are marijuana vapes and products and then experiencing dangerous adverse effects. Among the many health and safety concerns are the use of products that are laced with something else, such as Fentanyl.
There are students who attend our schools who have used vapes and suffered similar experiences including respiratory issues.
In a number of reports across the region, it has been reported that vapes are sometimes purchased at convenience stores, which are unlicensed and not legally allowed to dispense marijuana in any form. This can be dangerous for a number of reasons including a chance of encountering counterfeit products.
Please talk with your child about the dangers of purchasing anything claiming to contain marijuana from establishments that are not licensed by New York State as a dispensary.
Oftentimes, the administration of NARCAN (a medication used to reverse opioid overdose) is necessary. We do have NARCAN in each or our school buildings and staff who are trained to administer it but we would prefer to never have to use it on anyone.
Our district does have a substance abuse counselor available to support students and we also partner with a local community agency New Choices. If you believe your child needs substance abuse support, please reach out to your child's school counselor or social worker who will assist in making any needed referrals.
We will be sharing more information, tips and resources soon.
Let’s partner to keep the young people in our community safe.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s principal or the Office of Student Support Services.