SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottsdale police have arrested a Notre Dame Prep student who they say gave a fellow student a pill that led him to overdose.
The 17-year-old boy who overdosed was found last Wednesday evening in a Scottsdale home. First responders gave him multiple doses of Narcan and took him to a hospital. Police said he has made a full recovery.
The next morning, Scottsdale Police Department officers followed up at the school, where they found that school officials had identified a 16-year-old boy as the person who gave the pill to the overdosed teen.
Police found seven pills and other drug paraphernalia in the 16-year-old's car and arrested him. Officers found two more pills in his home.
In a Monday release, police said they had determined that the pills are "counterfeit prescription narcotics containing fentanyl."
Police investigated tips that a third student had received a pill, and when officers checked on him, he was fine. He denied ever receiving a pill from the suspect.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says this dangerous drug is 50 times more potent than morphine.
Kim Barrows' son is a high school student in the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Barrows said she felt, "nervous, sad, angry," after hearing the drug was on her streets, adding, "You send your kids to school to be safe."
Stephanie Siete, a public information officer with Community Bridges Inc. said Monday, the greatest danger with fentanyl is overdose victims often take it without trying to.
"It's usually going to be concealed or cut into something else, so you’re usually going to take it unknowingly," Siete said.
Community Bridges Inc. is an Arizona non-profit helping people dealing with drug addictions.
Barrows turned what first responders called a near-tragedy into a teaching opportunity.
"I cautioned him on taking anything from anybody not knowing what they could’ve done to it," Barrows said.
The teen suspect was later released but he faces further charges through the Maricopa County Juvenile Prosecutor's Office.
Notre Dame Prep. sent home the following statement:
Last week Notre Dame Preparatory administration was contacted by the Scottsdale Police Department regarding an investigation into the sale and use of illegal narcotics. We consider the safety and welfare of our students to be our highest priority. We informed our parents and are cooperating with the Scottsdale Police Department and their on-going investigation into these dangerous substances. We encourage anyone with information that may be relevant to this law enforcement investigation, please contact the Scottsdale Police Department.
In addition, we strongly encourage parents to speak with their children about this matter and warn them of the potentially fatal consequences of taking any drugs or other controlled substances. Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring that Notre Dame Prep is an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free campus; any use, possession, distribution, sharing or selling of drugs is strictly prohibited, and is grounds for discipline and/or immediate dismissal.
Thank you for your continued support, and please keep the Notre Dame Prep community in your prayers.