Cassville R-IV Partners with DPS
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has provided Missouri schools an opportunity to voluntarily participate in a drug monitoring program that analyzes wastewater samples from the district to identify illicit drugs. Cassville High School is a participant in this this wastewater testing program.
“We chose to participate in the voluntary program as a proactive, preventative measure to help us better understand and address potential substance use trends,” stated Dr. Merlyn Johnson, Cassville R-IV Superintendent. “This is about keeping our students safe and our staff informed so we can continually evaluate how we educate students about the dangers of drugs in our community.”
The program does not identify individuals. DPS is provided with aggregated data from the wastewater to assist districts and communities in recognizing potential concerns and respond with education and support.
DPS has made school district’s aware of a concerning drug, nitazenes, that has been detected in some wastewater samples. Nitazenes are synthetic opioids. More information is available about nitazenes on the Department of Elemenary and Secondary Education (DESE) website.
DESE is addressing findings in collaboration with DPS, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Department of Health and Senior Services. At the local level, the Cassville School District is analyzing district trends and working closely with the City of Cassville Police Department and the Barry County Sherriff’s Department to evaluate local data, identify needs and implement targeted staff training and student drug prevention programs based on study results.
“Our priority is student well-being,” said Johnson. “Particpating in this program allows us to partner with state agencies and stay ahead of potential issues, rather than reacting after problems arise.”
Families and students who have concerns of need support are encouraged to reach out to a trusted school staff member or connect with Courage2Report.