Parent Resources

Pupil Safety Parental Notification: Synthetic Drugs - EC 48985.5

Our school is committed to the safety of all our students. Although the long-term effects of many synthetic drugs on physical and mental health are not yet known, immediate effects on a student’s education, family, and life could be long-lasting. A synthetic drug is a drug with properties and effects similar to a known hallucinogen or narcotic but with a slightly altered chemical structure created to evade existing restrictions against illegal substances. These drugs may include synthetic cannabinoids, methamphetamines, bath salts, and fentanyl. Illicit fentanyl can be added to other drugs to make them cheaper, more powerful, and more addictive and has been found in heroin, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills, cocaine and other drugs. Fentanyl mixed with any drug increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Unless tested, it is difficult to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl because it cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. Additional information regarding fentanyl is available from the CDPH’s Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch.