Lightridge High School had their first ever canine drug scan on May 3. Students and staff were held in their first block rooms for the duration of the scan, which lasted for 90 minutes. The canine and it’s handling team primarily searched the school common areas. A Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office official, who asked to not be identified, declined to state the results of the drug scan.

“The drug scan was done as a precautionary measure due to the drug issue in different high schools in the county,” said the Sheriff’s Office official. “This was proactive – no teacher or student is being singled out whatsoever.”

On February 26, 2024, Loudoun County Public Schools stated that they will partner with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office to host randomized canine drug scans in the 18 Loudoun County high schools. The first drug scan was conducted in Broad Run High School on March 8, 2024. A more recent canine drug scan was in Rockridge High School.

These drug scans are a response to the larger issue of the LCPS fentanyl crisis, which led to 25 non-fatal student overdoses since January of 2023. LCPS stated that feedback on the drug scans will be analyzed, and if it is proved an effective solution, it will be carried into the 24-25 school year.

Lightridgenews.com has previously covered LCPS and LCSO’s response drugs appearing in schools. That article can be found here.