Drugs on the Playground

You don’t need to live in the big city to know that drugs are a problem, but most of us thought third graders were still safe from temptation for at least a few more years. Not so according to a recent story from Pennsylvania where an eight-year-old boy headed to school with dozens of packets thought to contain heroin.

School officials say the kid wasn’t just “holding,” he was handing the packets out to fellow students in his third grade class. The incident happened in a small town near Pittsburgh, where investigators say they recovered approximately 60 folded packs they believe to contain heroin. As if that weren’t bad enough, 18 more open packets were found in the classroom garbage. No arrests have been made, but Allegheny County Children-Youth and Family service was contacted, and the school has promised to take “swift and appropriate disciplinary action in this case to ensure the continued safety of all children."

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a fifth grader reportedly brought a bottle of liquor to school and shared it with four other kids on the playground. The Tennessee boy and his friends were found out by a teacher who took the bottle away, but not before the kids did some sampling. The bottle’s label said it contained vodka, according to a report by Tennessee news outlet WSMV, but investigators from the White County Sheriff’s Department aren’t ruling out the possibility that the bottle contained “white liquor” or “moonshine” instead. If that were the case, charges could be brought since the substance is against the law. In addition to action by the Sheriff’s Department, the State Alcohol Beverage Commission and the Department of Children’s Services were also called. The parents will likely have to answer some questions and the kids were all given 20 days of in-school suspension and ordered to undergo counseling.

Kids and Illegal Substances

Kids have always been curious and these incidents certainly aren’t the first of their kind, but the response is a testament to our anti-drug culture and the renewed commitment teachers and law enforcement have to keep our kids safe. What used to warrant a trip to the principal’s office and a phone call home can now involve local, state or even federal agencies. That’s great for cracking down on dealers and keeping kids from experimenting in the first place, but punishment is only half of the equation. We still need to offer help for kids and their loved ones who are in need of treatment for addiction. 

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If you or someone you love is battling an addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.