Ste. Genevieve School District R-II
STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve County School District R-II is among more than three dozen Missouri school districts participating in a statewide wastewater monitoring program aimed at identifying emerging drug trends and supporting proactive community awareness efforts.
The voluntary program, led by the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS), analyzes wastewater samples to detect the presence of illicit substances. Ste. Genevieve High School is one of 37 participating school sites across Missouri.
According to state data, nitazenes—a highly potent class of synthetic opioids—have been detected in 26 of the 37 participating schools since January. Nitazenes have been found in counterfeit pills, illicit powders, unregulated cannabis products and vape liquids, often without the user’s knowledge.
SG R-II opted to participate in the program as part of its broader commitment to student safety and community partnership.
“SG R-II is a member of the Ste. Genevieve Community Services Forum and has been actively involved in the Resources to Recovery subcommittee,” Superintendent Dr. Paul Taylor said. “We are aware of the ongoing opioid and substance abuse challenges in our county and across Missouri, and we believe in taking a proactive approach when tools like this are available.”
Resources to Recovery is a local initiative focused on substance abuse prevention, education and addiction recovery. Through this partnership and others, the district continues to collaborate with community organizations to address these concerns.
As a rural district and the only school system serving Ste. Genevieve County, SG R-II facilities represent some of the largest public-use spaces in the area. District officials emphasized that wastewater results reflect activity from all individuals who access school facilities, including students, staff, families, vendors and community members.
“Positive results cannot be traced to a specific individual or group,” Dr. Taylor noted. “Our facilities are used by a wide range of people each day.”
To date, SG R-II has received one positive detection of nitazenes through the weekly testing process. That result coincided with a week when multiple events were held on the high school campus. District officials stressed that there is no identified pattern of concern at this time.
“This information is not used for discipline or enforcement,” Dr. Taylor said. “Instead, it serves as a tool for awareness and prevention.”
District leadership maintains ongoing collaboration with building administration, school resource officers, our school social worker, counselors and health staff— to review information, discuss trends and align efforts related to awareness, communication and monitoring.
The district continues to emphasize education and preparedness. SG R-II maintains naloxone on hand in its schools, and staff members are trained to administer it in the event of an opioid overdose.
State health officials have underscored the importance of access to naloxone.
“Having access to and knowing how to administer naloxone is becoming increasingly important in our communities,” said Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Sarah Willson. “It is easy and safe to use and can reverse an opioid overdose and allow a person’s normal breathing to be restored.”
Health officials also note that multiple doses of naloxone may be required in some cases. Symptoms of an opioid overdose can include slowed or absent breathing, pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness and blue or gray lips or skin. Naloxone is safe to administer in any suspected overdose situation, even if the substance involved is unknown.
The statewide wastewater monitoring initiative is designed to identify trends while protecting individual privacy. Findings are consistent with broader data from law enforcement, emergency departments and overdose reporting systems across Missouri.
SG R-II will continue participating in the program and reviewing results on a weekly basis.
“We know there is an opioid issue in our county,” Dr. Taylor said. “If we have the ability to monitor trends and stay informed, we believe it is important to do so. This is about being proactive and prepared to support our students and community.”
In addition to monitoring efforts, SG R-II continues to work closely with its school resource officers, school social worker and counselors, who regularly share information with students and staff regarding substance abuse, safety concerns and prevention resources through programs such as Courage2Report and the Center for Education Safety. The district also partners with the Southeast Prevention Resource Center, which helps collect data on regional trends and provides resource information to support prevention and education efforts.