Attorney General, School Resource Officers Warn Florida Schools of Flavored Drugs
Attorney General Bill McCollum and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers issued a consumer advisory warning parents, teachers and school administrators of an alarming trend of flavored drugs, particularly methamphetamines, heroin and marijuana, circulating throughout the United States, often enticing younger children. These drugs could be ingested by unsuspecting children and are extremely harmful.
"These dangerous drugs are being cleverly disguised and distributed among our children and we must work together to educate them about these very grave risks," said Attorney General McCollum.
According to recent reports, methamphetamines, heroin and marijuana are being flavored with ingredients such as strawberry, chocolate and cola to disguise the drug and reduce its bitter taste, and may resemble candy pop rocks. There have been additional reports of gumballs filled with marijuana and narcotics packaged or disguised as other types of candy.
The advisory also warned of another drug known as "cheese," which is a form of heroin combined with Tylenol PM caplets. Known as "starter heroin," cheese is particularly dangerous because it combines the double depressants provided by the heroin and the sleep-inducing medication.
Children should be advised not to accept any candy which may resemble one of these new drug forms and should turn over any in their possession to their parents, teachers, principal, or school resource officer. Parents should encourage their children to avoid any participation in distributing or using the drugs, no matter how harmless they may seem, and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities or a trusted adult.
For more information, read Attorney General McCollum's Consumer Alert.
