New Jersey Art Teacher Faces Criminal Charges Alleged for Fentanyl Overdose

The Westfield police department of New Jersey announced criminal charges against a middle school art teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School. 

Frank Thompson, 57, is facing charges of crimes and offenses related with drugs, and endangering the welfare of children in connection to an incident on November 29, 2022, when the police department was notified that an art teacher overdosed in front of his class.

Art teacher overdoses on Fentanyl

NBC reported that a school resource officer noticed indicators of a narcotics overdose. It was alleged that Thompson had become unconscious while in his classroom on the second floor. Students found Thompson and noted that he was distressed; a school nurse was already treating him at the time.

A responding officer from the police department arrived and verified that the victim was unconscious and unresponsive while lying on the ground.

Naloxone hydrochloride, most commonly known as Narcan, its brand name, is a medication used to treat opioid overdoses. According to the authorities, the school resource officer noticed signs of a narcotic overdose and administered the drug.

After receiving the Narcan treatment, the art teacher immediately showed signs of improvement, thus further proving the assumption that he had a drug overdose.

Charges on overdosing

The Westfield Police Department reported that Thompson was charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (fentanyl), 2C:35-10A(1), a crime of the third degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 2C:36-2, a disorderly person offense, and Endangering the Welfare of Children, 2C:24-4A(2).

A police search into a closet in the classroom revealed the presence of what is believed to be a quantity of a prohibited hazardous substance and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Thompson has been given a complaint summons through his lawyer, and he is expected to report to Central Judicial Processing on February 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.

However, whether the art teacher still holds his teaching profession in the Westfield Public School District has not been made clear.

According to NBC, Superintendent Raymond González stated, "While the Westfield Public School District cannot comment on personnel matters that are confidential, we will maintain a continued focus on student and staff safety and on preserving the integrity of the classroom learning environment."

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How serious is Fentanyl overdose

As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more powerful than morphine and up to 50 times more powerful than heroin.

The most common drugs found to be implicated in fatal overdoses are synthetic opioids like fentanyl and other types of opioids.

Prescribed pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl are the two types of fentanyl available on the market nowadays.

Often, it is recommended by medical professionals to alleviate extreme pain for patients whose cancer has progressed to an advanced stage.

On the other hand, most recent incidents of fentanyl-related overdoses are linked to fentanyl that was produced illegally.

The drug can be hazardous to the human body, even when consumed in small doses.

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