Health Safety Alert - Trending Substances

Keeping our students safe and well is a shared priority, and part of that work is staying informed about new and emerging substance use trends that may impact children in middle school and high school and their families.

Our educational partners at Beach Cities Health District and South Bay Families Connected recently shared updated information for parents and guardians about substances currently being seen across the South Bay. We want to ensure our families are aware of these trending substances so conversation can happen early and proactively at home.

Current trending substances include:

Kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH): Often sold as powders, capsules, gummies, or drink shots. Some forms act similarly to opioids and carry a risk of addiction, overdose, and other serious health effects.
Tianeptine: Sometimes referred to as “gas station heroin,” this substance may be sold in convenience stores or online and has been linked to severe health risks, including dependency and overdose.
Liquid Cocaine: A liquid form of cocaine that poses a high risk for overdose and may be mixed with other dangerous substances.
Bath Salts (synthetic cathinones): Human-made stimulants that can cause extreme agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, and other serious physical and mental health effects.

We encourage you to review the following two resources for more detailed information:

South Bay Families Connected - Youth Substance Use Prevention

If you believe your child or someone else may be experiencing a medical emergency related to substance use, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911.

For questions or concerns about possible exposure that is not an emergency, you may contact the Poison Control at (800) 222-1222, which is available 24 hours a day and offers free, confidential guidance.

Thank you for partnering with us to support the health, safety, and well-being of our Hermosa Valley students.