HAMPTON, Va. — Four Bethel High School students who were hospitalized Tuesday afternoon, have been released to their parents, according to the Hampton Police Division.
Dr. Tanya Howard, the executive principal of Bethel High School, sent an e-mail to Bethel families on Tuesday. She wrote that the students were sharing a drug-infused pen and afterwards they had an adverse reaction.
Watch: Bills cracking down on vape products wait to be signed by Gov. Youngkin
Howard sent out a email to parents following the incident:
Good afternoon, this is Dr. Tanya Howard, the executive principal of Bethel High School. In an effort to ensure accurate information, I want to share important details regarding an incident that took place at our school today.
Earlier this afternoon, several students shared a drug-infused vape pen. Some of the students had adverse reactions, which required medical attention. Emergency medical services were called, and four students were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Our administration is actively addressing the situation and is working closely with our school resource officer and the Hampton Police Division. This incident remains under investigation.
As a reminder, items of this nature are strictly prohibited on school property. While I cannot share specific details about the disciplinary actions, please know that the students who were involved have been identified and will be disciplined according to the HCS Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
We highly encourage parents and guardians to use this opportunity to have an open conversation with your child regarding the risks of drug use and the serious consequences of bringing prohibited items to school. Furthermore, we believe it's crucial to stress to your child the importance of refraining from accepting or consuming items whose contents they are unfamiliar with, to include vapes, pens, and items that look like food or candy.
Safety is always our top priority at Bethel. We thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide a safe learning environment for all students and staff. Thank you.
On Tuesday, News 3’s Leondra Head spoke to a Bethel High junior who says he often sees other students vaping during school hours.
“Every now and then in the bathroom. Some use the bathroom, some hang out in groups and smoke a little bit in the restroom,” the student said.
Watch: Virginia attorney general asks FDA to increase regulation on sale of 'illegal' E-cigarettes, vape products
Dr. Ryan Light, a family medicine doctor, says many kids don't realize the risks associated with vaping.
“Vaping is dangerous. You don’t know who’s been tampering with it or what they could have put in there. We sometimes don’t know what’s in the juices,” Light said.
Taylor recommends parents sit down and talk to their children about the harmful effects of vaping and drug-use.
On Wednesday, News 3 reporter Angela Bohon sat down with students at the Governor's Health Sciences Academy at Warwick High School who recently created a video Public Service Announcement focusing on the dangers of vaping. They entered it into a statewide competition. The teens say they learned a lot and want to share the warning.
Student Elmer Sierra-Velasquez said, "People think it’s fine to vape. They think, ‘I just won’t get caught,’ but they don’t know what could be in it like Fentanyl, for example, like in our PSA.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Hampton Police Division sent News 3 an e-mail stating, in part, "We will not know what was in the vape pen until we receive the results from the lab. The incident is still an active investigation."
News 3 will update this article as more information becomes available.
