A Brandywine Heights High School student overdosed while at school and was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment at 7:53 a.m. on May 12.
“The juvenile is alive and recovering,” according to a State Police report.
The student was charged for drug possession.
Another student Julia Koch, 18, was found in possession of heroin and taken into custody, according to a State Police report.
In a message to Brandywine Heights families on May 14, Superintendent Andrew Potteiger, wrote, “It comes with a heavy heart that I send this message out this evening. This week there were two separate incidents relating to drug use. I want to let everyone know that as a district staff we are working hard to ensure the safety of our students. We have been in communication with the Pennsylvania State Police and they are investigating both situations. They also have been a great partner in this effort by providing additional presence in the community.”
“We have great students in our school and these situations are an unfortunate representation of the student body. We must work to help students who need the supports but also need to focus on the wonderful attributes of our students doing remarkable things,” wrote Potteiger. “It will take a community to combat this issue. It is not an overnight fix but rather one that starts at the youngest age and focuses on prevention.”
Potteiger told The Patriot that on Tuesday, May 12, a student brought drugs into school, sold it or gave it to another student. Another student took the drugs. He said it is believed the drugs were used in the bathroom.
“And then overdosed in the classroom, passed out in the classroom,” said Potteiger.
Staff members, who are medically trained, responded until the EMTs arrived and “really helped. She was alive and awake when the ambulance got there,” he said.
Potteiger is grateful that student is okay and recovering.
“The student (a juvenile) that had the drugs was then taken away by police,” said Potteiger.
On Thursday, May 14, another student was arrested for possession.
“She had six bags of heroin on her. Sold it to another student,” said Potteiger.
The high school was locked down during both incidents on May 12 and 14.
“It’s such an unfortunate thing,” he said.
His concern is what are they going to do to ensure the school is safe and drug free, as well as getting help for those students involved.
“These kids need help and that’s a hard thing. It’s all heroin related and heroin is such a gripping drug. Once they start that first time they’re down this negative path that becomes their goal in life. It’s really a shame. It’s so devastating to the families, to the students and everyone else.”
Unfortunately, he said this is a minority portraying a negative image on the rest of the student body.
“The rest of the students are getting really upset about it because they don’t want (Brandywine) to be labeled as the school where there’s all this heroin,” said Potteiger, noting that Brandywine has “awesome” students and a great program. “This is tainting that because of the negative perceptions that are happening.”
Potteiger and staff met with students during lunch time on Friday, May 15, encouraging students to get involved in brainstorming ideas.
“It’s so hard to deal with the drugs coming into the school when those folks who are bringing the drugs into the school are not afraid of the police, they’re not afraid of the consequences,” said Potteiger, visibly upset that students “had the audacity” to bring drugs into the school and use in school. “That’s the part that we’re really trying to take out of the picture as much as possible but you’re fighting an element where the students who are bringing it in are addicted and they have no remorse and they have no boundaries to care because that drug is all they care about.”
To counter the drug issue, Potteiger said administration have been meeting with faculty and students to brainstorm ideas on what they can do to help.
Prevention is their focus. “To put deterrents in place so that they don’t bring them in.”
Drug concerns is not new for Brandywine. The community created the Brandywine Heights Community Task Force last year. Task Force programs include informational parent nights and an after school program for middle schoolers.
“The issues have not gone away,” he said. “This is not a light switch fix; it’s not going to happen overnight.”
Potteiger said it’s a community effort of parents, town, police, and school that will be the “catalyst for change that’s going to take years.”
Because the drug is so addictive, he said it is all about prevention. “We really need to work together as a community. This is a long-term effort.”
The Patriot requests community comments. Please submit to lmitchell@berksmontnews.com.
