17 middle school students in Studio City medically evaluated for possibly consuming banned substance
STUDIO CITY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As many as 17 students at a middle school in Studio City had to be medically evaluated after possibly consuming a banned substance, officials said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to Walter Reed Middle School around 11 a.m. Thursday.
Fire officials reported a total of 17 patients. Two were transported to a hospital, and the rest were released to their parents. All are expected to fully recover.
It's unclear what substance the students may have consumed.
A Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson released the following statement to Eyewitness News:
"Good afternoon. This is the principal with an important message. The safety of our students and staff remains my top priority.
Today, we became aware that a group of students may have consumed a banned substance. Emergency personnel were contacted, and students received medical attention. The parents of the affected students have been notified. The Los Angeles School Police Department is currently investigating this incident, and we are actively working with our local health partners.
We ask that you talk to your children about substance abuse and the harmful side effects of controlled substances. We need your help to educate our students about the harms that drugs can cause. For more information about the impact of drug abuse, please visit this resource from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at ph.lacounty.gov/sapc/.
Our school has mental health resources for students impacted by this incident, including counseling support.
We also encourage everyone to follow the District's message: if you see something, say something. Thank you for your continued engagement and support."
Meanwhile, authorities also responded to another medical emergency at 52nd Street Elementary School in South Los Angeles on Thursday. Two patients there reportedly experienced some type of overdose.
Their conditions were not known.
