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Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office: high school students hospitalized after taking Xanax

Posted at 6:18 PM, Sep 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-24 21:18:22-04

Six high school students in Santa Barbara County were hospitalized Monday morning after they were found to be under the influence of Xanax. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says one of the students was later arrested for possession and distribution of Xanax.

It started just after school began Monday morning. Deputies say a teacher at Cabrillo High School in Lompoc saw a student who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The teacher reported the information to the school office, which then notified the Sheriff’s new School Resource Deputy on campus.

Investigators say a student from the Community Day School walked into the office at nearby Maple High School shortly after the first incident. That student also appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Deputies were brought to the school to investigate. They found the student’s car in the parking lot with three Maple High School students inside who were unresponsive. A fourth female student was located outside the vehicle. Deputies say she was impaired. Firefighters and paramedics provided medical assistance, and all six of the students were determined to be under the influence of Xanax. They were hospitalized for further medical evaluation.

The student from the Community Day School, who deputies say was currently on probation, was arrested for possession and distribution of Xanax. Deputies say the student had more than 70 Xanax pills on him. He was taken to Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall after he was medically cleared from the hospital. The Cabrillo High School student was also on probation and was arrested for violating his probation.

The Sheriff’s Office says Xanax can be extremely dangerous and even fatal if it is abused. Parents who are prescribed Xanax need to keep it in a secure place where it can be monitored.