An investigation is underway after 12 students at a West Philadelphia school reportedly drank juice laced with a possible opioid, landing several in the hospital.
Police announced the incident happened just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, at Crossroads Accelerated Academy, a middle school that offers over-age students an opportunity to catch up to their age-appropriate high school cohort.
The School District of Philadelphia said it believes a student brought in the drug and shared it with other students, aged 12 to 16.
The incident happened inside a classroom and involved grape juice mixed with a drug they called “Wonk,” according to Fox 29. “Wonk” is a slang term for ketamine, which is not an opioid but rather an anesthetic with dissociative properties.
Five of the students who participated were taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, while the seven others were recovering at home with their parents, reports CBS News Philadelphia.
Crossroads Academy was then put on a temporary lockdown around 12:15 p.m., as authorities swept the premises.
“We take situations like this very seriously as they have the potential to compromise the safe and appropriate learning environment we strive to provide to our students every day,” a school district spokesperson said in a statement.
“We encourage families to speak to their children about the dangers of drug use and consuming an unknown substance and have resources available if guardians need additional support,” the statement added.
The Philadelphia Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident.