17-year-old Centreville High School student dies of suspected heroin overdose

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A 17-year-old Centreville girl was found dead Tuesday of an apparent drug overdose.

The girl, identified by Fairfax County police as Alexia Springer, was a junior at Centreville High School. She was found early Tuesday morning at her home by a friend who had spent the night, police said.

According to police, the girl died from complications caused by heroin use.

Hours later, a second Fairfax County resident also died from a suspected overdose. The unidentified 28-year-old man was found by a family member in the bathroom of a residence suffering from an overdose and later died at the hospital.

According to those who knew Springer, she was known for her generosity and outgoing personality.

Grief and crisis counselors have been made available at Centreville High School. A letter was sent home notifying parents about the student's death Wednesday night.

The school district said it is reviewing its drug education and prevention curriculum.

According to government sources, more people now die from drug overdoses each year than in car crashes; in Northern Virginia, heroin-related deaths increased 164 percent between 2011 and 2013.

In Fairfax County, the number of deaths from heroin overdoses doubled between 2013 and 2014.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with heroin use, please refer to the following resources: