A statewide wastewater monitoring program has detected nitazenes in the Orrick R-XI School District, prompting district officials to notify families and outline steps being taken to ensure student safety and awareness.The testing is part of a voluntary statewide initiative led by the Missouri Department of Public Safety, in coordination with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Mental Health. Officials say the program is designed to identify emerging drug trends through anonymous wastewater analysis, giving schools and communities data to guide prevention and response efforts. Wastewater testing detects substances that have been metabolized and excreted from the body, meaning results reflect substances used by individuals within the broader community rather than identifyingwhere or when use occurred. Nitazenes are a highly potent class of synthetic opioids, with some compounds estimated to be...