12 students drink juice mixed with possible opioid at West Philadelphia school: authorities
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Twelve students drank grape juice ingested with a possible opioid at a school in West Philadelphia, police said Wednesday.
It happened shortly after 11:30 a.m. at Crossroads Accelerated Academy in the 4300 block of Westminster Avenue. A large police was presence on scene, including the counter-terrorism unit.
Tests are still being done on the substance, but district officials say the students ingested wonk, which is an opioid.
The School District of Philadelphia believes two students brought in the drug and shared it with their classmates. District officials said this is the first time they've ever dealt with type of situation.
"This is unacceptable," Monique Braxton, a spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia, said. "You do not have a child bringing in an opioid substance on school property -- definitely banned from school property. And then to know two students brought it in grape juice? And they passed it around?"
Five students were treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and seven are at home with their parents, the school district said.
The students range in age from 12 to 16 years old.
Officials didn't provide an update on the conditions of the students because of their age, but they are expected to be OK.
The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating.
