First Drug Scan At Loudoun County High Schools Completed, More Schools Coming Up

ASHBURN, VA — After Loudoun County Public Schools and law enforcement announced drug scans by canine teams would begin at high schools in March, the sheriff's office completed its first scan Friday.

The scan at Broad Run High School in Ashburn resulted in no positive alerts for drugs. The sheriff's office said the checks happened without intersections between law enforcement and students. Classes were on "hold" as the scan was completed over one hour.

"Stopping juvenile overdoses and keeping fentanyl and other dangerous drugs out of our schools is a top priority," said Sheriff Mike Chapman in a statement. "Canine scans should be a deterrent to anyone thinking of bringing these drugs to school and will add to our collective efforts to protect Loudoun’s students and their families."

The drug scans are being done by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and Leesburg Police Department. The school division cited the concern of overdoses in the community, including school-related overdoses. LCPS policy prohibits drug possession, use and distribution in schools. The school division said students and families struggling with substance abuse can receive support.

The scans are occurring randomly without notice at high schools throughout the spring. Families will be notified after a scan happens. The sheriff's office will be responsible for scans at 16 high schools, and Leesburg Police will conduct scans at the three high schools in the Town of Leesburg.

Families can learn about the canine team scans at high schools on an information page created by LCPS.

Other actions are underway to address overdoses at schools or involving students. At least nine opioid-related overdoses involving LCPS students in October 2023 had prompted an executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin on parental notification. The order directs school systems to notify parents when school-related drug overdoses occur.

LCPS said it has followed the order and supports new legislation that would require notification of suspected overdoses within 24 hours. School leaders also want clarification on the bill's requirements for notifying the community on non-school related incidents involving students.

"There have been a number of juvenile overdoses in Loudoun County over the last year that are non-school related," said Superintendent Aaron Spence. "Without the expanded reporting we are talking about, our parents and community would not necessarily know that. It’s important we share when this happens in our schools–and also when this is happening outside of our schools and in our community–so that parents are able to have those important conversations in their homes with their children."