Palisades Parents Warned Of Drug Trend With Deadly Consequences

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — A spate of teen overdoses tied to fentanyl-laced drugs has the Los Angeles Unified School warning Pacific Palisades parents of a deadly new trend.

In a health alert issued by the county's largest school district, authorities warned parents that children have been purchasing drugs online. In some cases, the teens unknowingly bought fentanyl-laced drugs, leading to near-fatal overdoses. The unusual alert was sent out this week after three girls ingested fentanyl-laced drugs last week and overdosed in Santa Monica.

The teens thought they were buying ecstasy online. All three were hospitalized in critical condition. A letter from the school district's medical director sent to parents on Wednesday said the students suffered "neurological consequences" after ingesting the fentanyl-laced drugs.

"The pills were purchased online and raise significant concern for the growing trend of contaminated illicit drugs and overdoses in Los Angeles County," it said in the letter.

3 Teen Girls Overdose At Santa Monica Apartment: Police

"We encourage you to have discussions with your child about making healthy choices and about the dangers of ingesting any illicit drugs especially as we enter into end-of-year celebrations and the summer."

The ages of the students were not released by LAUSD, nor was whether the students took the drugs on district campus grounds.

The three teenage girls overdosed on drugs at an apartment in Santa Monica last week.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, overdose deaths involving opioids increased by nearly 40% compared to the year prior. In addition, the LA County Department of Public Health said fentanyl- related overdoses have skyrocketed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

In many cases, people don't realize their drugs are laced with powerful and deadly fentanyl. Rapper Mac Miller died after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl in his Studio City home in 2018. In the years since, countless others have overdosed on fentanyl-laced drugs, which has flooded the illicit drug market in recent years.

SEE ALSO:

• Alleged Dealers Accused Of Tricking Mac Miller In Fatal OD
• LA Man Sentenced to Prison for Supplying Drugs to Rapper Mac Miller

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.