Parents Arrested After Daughter Overdoses on Father's Fentanyl at School

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The parents of a teenage girl in Sarasota, Florida were arrested after the girl overdosed on fentanyl that belonged to her father at her middle school. The girl found the bottle of fentanyl in the bathroom and ingested some, leading to her being found unresponsive on the classroom floor. She was revived with Narcan and transported to the hospital for further treatment.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the growing opioid crisis and the dangers of unsecured prescription drugs, especially powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl, being accessible to minors. It also raises concerns about parental responsibility and the need for better education and support around substance abuse issues.

The details

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the middle school after the girl was found unresponsive. A school nurse performed CPR and a deputy administered Narcan before she was taken to the hospital. The girl told authorities she had seen her father, Joshua Sanders, use drugs and was curious, so she found the bottle labeled "FENT" in the bathroom and ingested some of the contents. The girl's mother, Courtney Delaney, admitted to arguing with Sanders about his drug use, and Sanders acknowledged leaving the fentanyl bottle near the bathroom sink.

• On Tuesday morning, the girl was found unresponsive on a classroom floor at her middle school.
• The girl was transported to the hospital for further treatment after being revived with Narcan.

What’s next

The judge will determine whether Joshua Sanders and Courtney Delaney will be allowed to post bail and be released from custody as the case proceeds.