North Shore Plaza

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We want to make you aware of a concerning safety issue we have recently observed on campus. Staff have found discarded packaging and pills indicating that students may be bringing and misusing Benadryl (diphenhydramine) at school. In some instances, the amount involved appears to be far beyond what would be considered safe or appropriate.

Benadryl is an over-the-counter medication, but when taken in large quantities or without medical supervision, it can be extremely dangerous. Misuse can cause serious health effects including confusion, rapid heart rate, hallucinations, seizures, loss of consciousness, and in severe cases, life-threatening complications. We are speculating that this behavior may be related to a TikTok trend encouraging unsafe use of this medication.

We are addressing this at school through increased supervision, investigation, and student conversations, but we need your help as well. We strongly encourage you to:

·       Talk with your child about the dangers of misusing any medication, including over-the-counter products.

·       Monitor medications at home and ensure they are stored securely.

·       Discuss the risks of online trends and challenges that promote unsafe behavior.

·       Remind your child that bringing medication to school without authorization is not allowed and can result in serious consequences.

Please note our school policy regarding medications: any medication that needs to be brought to school—whether prescription or over-the-counter—must be brought to and stored in the school office and administered according to district procedures. Students are not permitted to carry medications on their person or keep them in backpacks unless explicitly authorized through the school.

If your child has a legitimate medical need for medication during the school day, please contact the school office to make appropriate arrangements.

Student safety is always our top priority, and we appreciate your partnership in addressing this matter promptly. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration.

Thank you for your continued support.

Janis Gerding, Principal