Pahrump high school overdose leads to meth and THC bust, deputies say

A medical emergency at Pahrump Valley High School on April 27 turned into a narcotics case that now includes methamphetamine, THC vape pens and multiple arrests, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies with the Division of School Services and Patrol responded after a juvenile male was reported overdose-like and found semi-conscious on campus. He was taken to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump for treatment. Investigators later traced the episode to a vape pen the student had used, and testing showed the device contained THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

From there, the case widened quickly. The sheriff’s office said deputies identified two brothers believed to be tied to the vape pen and found identical vape pens in their vehicle, along with about 9 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A search of the brothers’ home turned up more THC vape pens and another 2.6 grams of methamphetamine. In all, investigators reported seizing 11.68 grams of methamphetamine and about 84 grams of concentrated THC.

Daniel Joseph Young was arrested and faces charges including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, supplying marijuana to a person under 21, meth possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and concentrated cannabis possession. Valerie Rodgers was also arrested on methamphetamine and concentrated-cannabis charges. Mark Young was also arrested, according to later reporting.

The sheriff’s office said investigators believe the vape pens were distributed to students at Pahrump Valley High School, raising immediate questions about how drugs reached campus and how many students may have had access to them. On April 30, the school posted a community update titled “Prioritizing Student Safety: A Community Update Regarding Drugs in Schools,” and principal Desiree Veloz said the campus was working “hand-in-hand” with the sheriff’s department to hold accountable anyone trying to bring dangerous substances onto school grounds.

Drug-detecting K9s searched the school on April 30 as part of the investigation. The case also carries clear legal stakes under Nevada law, which bars giving, selling or delivering marijuana to anyone under 21 and prohibits marijuana possession or use on school grounds. For Pahrump families, the incident showed how quickly a vape pen can turn into a medical call, a criminal investigation and a campus safety problem all at once.