“We got lucky” | Teens call for more security after Sequoyah High carfentanil exposure

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - WVLT News spoke with School Resource Officer Captain Rusty Vineyard for further clarification on a carfentanil exposure incident that occurred at Sequoyah High School Tuesday.

According to previous reports from law enforcement officials and school representatives, three staff members were exposed to carfentanil and had to be administered with Narcan.

Vineyard told WVLT News around 11:40 a.m. a SRO at the school called Vineyard, saying he had tested positive for carfentanil exposure. That officer and another SRO then went to the SRO office where the school’s nurse administered Narcan. Vineyard was not able to confirm who administered the Narcan to the nurse, but did tell WVLT News that teachers and administrators are trained to use the drug.

All this, while students were still at school.

“I was scared and worried,” said Daelyn Bright, a student. “I expect that they figure out who is actually brining it in and security gets bumped up.”

Officials previously said that the fentanyl stemmed from a student’s vape pen, though Vineyard later told WVLT News that the drug was not found in the pen’s cartridge. An incident report and other officials from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that the drug was stored inside a paper packaging that was tucked into the vape itself.

Drugs have been an issue at the school for decades, Vineyard said.

The staff members exposed to the drug were briefly taken to the hospital, and are now at home resting, Vineyard said.

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