ADAMS TWP — With Butler County experiencing a record number of opioid overdose deaths, representatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI are working with Mars School District officials to help them better understand the impact of the epidemic.

Law enforcement officials recently reviewed the risk factors that lead to opioid use along with the warning signs for identifying drug use among students. The training comes at a time when the epidemic continues to worsen throughout the county and across the country, said Wes Shipley, superintendent.

“It’s a really important topic,” he said. “Officers have had to use Narcan to revive people in our community.”

The training aimed to help district officials and staff learn how to respond in situations involving opioids and how to direct students and staff if they believe someone in their community may be struggling with a substance abuse issue.

“Contact the police or the school district, the school nurse,” Shipley said. “Our concern is the health of the individual.”

Administrators also discussed how the crisis is not confined to one segment of the population or those who are typically considered to be criminals.

“A lot of young athletes can get addicted if they get injured and are put on pain medication,” Shipley said.

Shipley does see glimmers of hope as doctors continue to adapt to the crisis and modify prescription practices while working to improve their patients’ understanding of pain management.

When his daughters needed pain medication following minor surgeries, Shipley said he saw a marked change in the way the doctors handled the pills in the years between the two interactions.

“With my first daughter, they gave her the pills for 30 days and said to use them when you need them,” he said. “With my second daughter, they said take one now and a half of one tomorrow, and if you don’t need them, bring them back.”

Butler County saw 74 overdoses last year, according to the coroner’s office. That was matched this year in November with the number still rising. As of last week 87 people had died from drug overdoses, according to the county coroner’s office.

For the second year in a row the CDC has recorded a decline in life expectancy in America — a phenomenon officials say is largely driven by the drug epidemic. Figures released earlier this month put drug deaths at 63,600 nationwide, up from about 52,000 in 2015.

District teachers and staff members have previously received training on teen drug use, including common indicators and warning signs.