The presence of seven different drugs have been identified in St. James R-1 School District’s wastewater after the district opted into a free wastewater testing resource for schools earlier this year.

The program conducts weekly tests on the school’s wastewater for the presence of fentanyl, xylazine, nitazenes, cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, nicotine, methadone and naloxone. 

Since testing first began at the district 12 weeks ago, every substance except for xylazine and naloxone has come back positive at least once, according to Superintendent Tim Webster.

St. James was one of 37 schools across Missouri — many of which are located in rural or suburban areas — that chose to take part in the voluntary program conducted by a company called Stercus Bioanalytics. Webster said opting in was a “no-brainer” because the data gives the district valuable information about substance abuse patterns in the school and in the community.

The testing does have its limitations, however. It cannot provide the district with information regarding who or how many people were using the substances that received a positive test.

“Results cannot determine whether substances originated from students, staff or community members,” an email sent out to families read. “However, the data does indicate that certain substances are present within the broader community.”

The wastewater that is tested comes from the school’s bathrooms. During sporting events or other activities, hundreds of parents and community members use the school’s facilities. This means that there’s a possibility these drugs aren’t only being used by students.

Test results are split between wastewater from bathrooms on the school’s southwest side (mainly used by students and staff during the school day) and bathrooms connected to the auditorium, administrative building and other parts of the school, which are more often used by outside community members.

Though the seven drugs have been found in both locations, the latter has shown more consistent positive results each week, Webster said.

Despite the program’s current limitations, Webster said he still finds the results to be valuable in identifying and curbing drug use in both St. James’ schools and the community as a whole.

“At least we are aware it’s in our community, because if it’s our kids, or if it’s the community, we both know eventually where that’s going to go,” he said. “If it is in the community, somebody is going to sell drugs to a kid, someone is going to get in their parent’s drawer and get those drugs out. It’s inevitable.”

Of the seven substances discovered in the school’s wastewater, the district is particularly concerned about the presence of nitazenes, as they are especially dangerous.

Nitazenes are a synthetic opioid five to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Missouri Department of Public Safety (MDPS). They can be found in counterfeit pills, illicit powders, unregulated cannabis products and vape liquid, often without the user knowing.

The drug was identified in 26 out of the 37 participating Missouri schools since January, including nearby Salem R-80 and Owensville High School, according to MDPS data.

Prevention Consultants of Missouri has advised the district that it’s likely these drugs are being mixed into other substances, like unregulated vape liquids that could be used by students. Otherwise, the district would almost surely be seeing overdose deaths. The fact that the district tested negative for naloxone (also known as Narcan), which is used to treat overdoses, supports this theory.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has warned that the presence of nitazenes is growing statewide. Nitazenes were implicated in 14 Missouri overdose deaths in 2024, more than triple the total number recorded between 2019 and 2023.

In response to the results, Webster said he’s met with administration to discuss the school’s current substance use prevention programs and identify any gaps that need to be addressed.

The district participates in D.A.R.E. and Teens Teach Prevention programs, as well as teaches 10-session lessons titled “Too Good for Drugs” in all three of its buildings. 

Webster has also been collaborating with Chief Ron Jones at the St. James Police Department and Prevention Consultants of Missouri to identify ways to strengthen the district’s approach to drug prevention.

He plans to expand education for the district’s parent population in order to increase education and awareness.

“We think it’s a shared responsibility, because as a school district, we have people’s children for the majority of the day, so we do have a responsibility to help educate the kids about drugs and make sure they’re not using them here,” Webster said. “But we also have to make sure parents have the key look-fors and takeaways too, because most of the time that (students are) probably using the drugs is in the evening or on the weekend.”

In an email sent out to parents, the district encouraged families to engage in open conversations about the dangers of drug use.

Webster intends for the district to continue its participation in the wastewater monitoring for as long as it is available, which depends on government funding.

The program is still in its early stages. In the future, Webster wants to see testing for the presence of THC made available and hopes for more accurate estimates regarding how much of the substance was present in wastewater.

“I think it’s going to be a great thing,” he said. “I think right now, it’s like anything else — you’ve got to start somewhere.”