School leader using new wastewater testing results to warn about drugs
By Matt Flener
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CRAIG, Missouri (KMBC) — Just behind the Craig R-III School, beneath a bright orange construction barrier, a gray automatic monitor is testing wastewater coming from the school.
Craig became one of the first eight school districts in Missouri to install the monitoring device last April.
Now, around 50 school districts, including Craig, are part of a wider voluntary program from the Missouri Department of Public Safety to watch for signs of fentanyl and other drugs.
When someone washes their hands or flushes the toilet in the bathroom at the school, the DPS device is designed to detect signs of drugs like fentanyl and heroin in the wastewater. It cannot detect anyone’s identity, including students, staff or community members who come through the school.
But one surprising result started showing up in January, according to Matt Copeland, superintendent of the Craig R-III School District.
State leaders notified him of nitazenes coming from the school’s wastewater.
“And they’re like, this is new. It’s more dangerous than fentanyl,” he said. “As soon as they said that it caught my interest.”
School organizes ‘One Pill Can Kill’ education
Nitazenes are highly potent synthetic opioids. Some nitazenes can be 5-10 times more potent than fentanyl. They’ve been found in counterfeit pills, powders, unregulated cannabis products and vape liquids.
“We want to educate, not only our community, but all communities so that no one has to sit in an interview with you when they’ve lost a kid or their student because it’s going to happen,” Copeland said in an interview with KMBC 9 Investigates on Wednesday.
Once he heard the news about nitazenes, Copeland immediately organized a school assembly presented by Sgt. Shane Hux with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for students in grades 6-12.
“It should raise your awareness,” Hux said. “It’s important for parents to talk to their children about the dangers related to it as well.”
Hux said the main drug problem remains fentanyl in northwest Missouri. Law enforcement is just now starting to understand more about how nitazenes are showing up in synthetic drugs, he said.
“The main message is that I’m trying to get across these young people is, do not take any type of pills unless they are issued to you by a licensed pharmacist,” he said.
Copeland said he’s hopeful the message has worked from early testing results after the assembly.
“We have great kids. We have great parents. We have great community here,” Copeland said. “But I’m also not naive enough to know that there aren’t drugs somewhere.”
Copeland added, “I also know that this is an opportunity to be educational, to be proactive ahead of the curve so that we can do what’s best for our community.”
Additionally, the samples are only happening in the school’s wastewater. The water system both in the school and around town is completely safe to drink, according to Craig Mayor Diana Jones.
“It’s definitely a wake-up call, proving that it can be anywhere, even in small towns,” she said.
Fourteen people in Missouri overdosed and died from nitazenes in 2024, more than triple the number recorded between 2019 and 2023.
Symptoms of an opioid overdose can include slowed or stopped breathing, pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness and bluish skin or lips.
What can families, community leaders do to help?
Officials recommend several things:
Talk with children and teens about the risks of illicit and unregulated substances Understand that illicit and unregulated substances could contain nitazenes Have naloxone, or Narcan, and know how to use it Seek treatment or recovery support when needed
Resources
Resources are available for those who need help. Here are a few shared by Missouri health and safety officials.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 for mental health, substance use or emotional distress support Substance use treatment locations Missouri Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222 Time2Act — Missouri opioid misuse prevention Free naloxone
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