KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Cynthia Brakeman, President
David Manriquez, Vice President J. Bryan Batey, Clerk
Janice Graves, Clerk Pro Tem Jeff Flores, Member
BRYON J. SCHAEFER, Ed.D., SUPERINTENDENT

5801 SUNDALE AVENUE • BAKERSFIELD • CALIFORNIA • 93309-2924 • (661) 827-3100 • FAX:(661) 396-2961

September 23, 2022

Dear KHSD Community:

I am writing today following up on information presented by District officials during the

June 6, 2022, Board of Trustees Meeting providing information about the dangers of
Fentanyl and other drugs in our community. We continue to receive information from
law enforcement about a very dangerous drug situation in Kern County, California, and
the country. The misuse and abuse of opioids, or any prescription medication, is already
cause for concern, but there has been a rise in the prevalence of counterfeit Percocet,
Xanax, and Oxycodone/oxycontin in Kern County, as well as new forms of Fentanyl.

According to the California Department of Public Health:

Brightly-colored fentanyl (referred to as rainbow fentanyl) has been identified as

a new trend according to the United States (U.S.) Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA) [1]. Rainbow fentanyl can be found in many forms, including pills, powder,
and blocks that can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy. Any pill (regardless of its
color, shape, or size) that does not come from a health care provider or
pharmacist can contain fentanyl and can be deadly.

Fentanyl is 80-100 times more potent than morphine and 40-50 times more potent than
heroin and, as a result, is a major cause of overdose for unsuspecting individuals.[2]

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) California Overdose

Surveillance Dashboard [3]:

• Emergency department visits related to non-fatal opioid overdoses in California’s

youth ages 10-19 years more than tripled from 2018 (379 total) to 2020 (1,222
total).
• Opioid-related overdose deaths in California’s youth ages 10-19 years increased
from 2018 (54 total) to 2020 (274 total), marking a 407 percent increase over two
years, largely driven by fentanyl.
• Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in California’s youth ages 10-19 years
increased from 2018 (36 total) to 2020 (261 total), a 625 percent increase.

The Kern High School District (KHSD) is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. KHSD prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying in any employment practice,
education program, or educational activity on the basis and/or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic
information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, national origin, physical or mental disability, parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, retaliation, sex, sexual orientation, military or veterans status,
homelessness, foster status, or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws consistent with Education Code 200 and 220, Government Code 11135, and Title IX. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination,
harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying you should contact your school site principal and/or the District's Equity Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator, Dean Juola, 5801 Sundale Avenue, (661) 827-3173, dean_juola@kernhigh.org,
and/or Section 504 Coordinator, Jim Bennett, SELPA Director, 5801 Sundale Ave, (661) 827-3100, jim_bennett@kernhigh.org. A copy of KHSD's Uniform Complaint policy and Nondiscrimination policy are available at www.kernhigh.org and upon request.
 In Kern County, for the entire population, the statistics are equally as disturbing,
according to the Kern County Sherriff:

• 2020 - 139 fentanyl overdose deaths

• 2021 – 232 fentanyl overdose deaths
• 232 out of 492 total overdose deaths in Kern County in 2021 were from fentanyl
• 2022 – 83 fentanyl overdoses as of July 6, 2022
• A few potential overdoses on campuses in several Kern County school districts,
including KHSD, have been reported this school year

Things We Are Doing:

• Since the Summer of 2021, our Student Behavior and Supports Department has
facilitated over 40 presentations to students, staff, and /or parents through our
substance abuse specialists and community partners
• Early identification of students who are starting to use opiates
• Educating staff in how to identify students under the influence and how to
respond
• Personnel throughout the district have been trained in the use of Narcan
• Ongoing drug counseling opportunities at our school sites
• Referral to outside resources for students and families

Things You Can Do

•
If you’re concerned someone in your life is at-risk for opioid overdose, carry the
overdose reversal medication naloxone (Narcan). Narcan has no adverse side
effects and is available without a physician prescription at most pharmacies in
Kern County.
• If you find any pills (images of pharmaceutical Percocet and Oxycodone can be
viewed here: Percocet and Oxycodone, for reference), do not touch them. Call
local law enforcement for removal.
• Speak with your student about this information so they know the risks of buying
or sharing prescription medication and that these pills are out there.
• Call local law enforcement if you or your student have seen these pills. Speaking
up may save a friend’s life!
• Contact the 24/7 Mental Health & Substance Use Access & Assessment Hotline
(888-818-1115) to get help for a friend or loved one struggling with substance
abuse.
We wish to keep our students and families as safe as possible and free from the
dangers caused by these drugs.

Erin Briscoe
KHSD Public Information Officer
Kern High School District

The Kern High School District (KHSD) is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. KHSD prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying in any employment practice,
education program, or educational activity on the basis and/or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic
information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, national origin, physical or mental disability, parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, retaliation, sex, sexual orientation, military or veterans status,
homelessness, foster status, or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws consistent with Education Code 200 and 220, Government Code 11135, and Title IX. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination,
harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying you should contact your school site principal and/or the District's Equity Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator, Dean Juola, 5801 Sundale Avenue, (661) 827-3173, dean_juola@kernhigh.org,
and/or Section 504 Coordinator, Jim Bennett, SELPA Director, 5801 Sundale Ave, (661) 827-3100, jim_bennett@kernhigh.org. A copy of KHSD's Uniform Complaint policy and Nondiscrimination policy are available at www.kernhigh.org and upon request.
 References:

[1] Drug Enforcement Agency. DEA Warns of Brightly-Colored Fentanyl Used to Target
Young Americans. DEA Warns of Brightly-Colored Fentanyl Used to Target Young
Americans (Last Updated: August 2022)

[2] CDPH. What is Fentanyl?

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/Pages/Fentanyl.aspx (Last
Updated: August 2022)

[3] CDPH. California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard

https://skylab.cdph.ca.gov/ODdash/ (Last Updated: July 2022)

The Kern High School District (KHSD) is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. KHSD prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying in any employment practice,
education program, or educational activity on the basis and/or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic
information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, national origin, physical or mental disability, parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, retaliation, sex, sexual orientation, military or veterans status,
homelessness, foster status, or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws consistent with Education Code 200 and 220, Government Code 11135, and Title IX. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination,
harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying you should contact your school site principal and/or the District's Equity Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator, Dean Juola, 5801 Sundale Avenue, (661) 827-3173, dean_juola@kernhigh.org,
and/or Section 504 Coordinator, Jim Bennett, SELPA Director, 5801 Sundale Ave, (661) 827-3100, jim_bennett@kernhigh.org. A copy of KHSD's Uniform Complaint policy and Nondiscrimination policy are available at www.kernhigh.org and upon request.