Prescription drugs circulate at Bay area schools

By: Janie Porter

Hernando County, Florida – A new trend or a long-time problem?

In the last week, three students at different high schools in Hernando County have been charged with bringing prescription drugs to school.

On Thursday, a 15-year-old at Central High School in Brooksville was found with 27 Klonopin tablets and about half a gram of marijuana. Klonopin is a psychoactive drug that can cause sedation and muscle relaxation by slowing the central nervous system.

Among the drugs, deputies found three Klonopin pills and a note for another student folded in plastic wrap. Allison LeFrancois admitted she was going to give the package to another student, according to the arrest affidavit.

“The defendant also advised she had given many other students Klonopin pills within the last week,” the affidavit read.

The same day, deputies responded to Nature Coast Technical High School in Brooksville after the assistant principal called to say Rayna Hill, 18, had come to school with a bottle of prescription pills.

Deputies say Hill was carrying 16 Propoxyphene pills and three Tylenol with codeine pills in her purse. She told deputies the Propoxyphene, which is a morphine-like painkiller, belonged to her mother. Hill was suspended for 10 days and will be required to attend drug classes.

A third incident occurred last week at Hernando High School, where a student allegedly brought 25 Xanax pills to give to other students. Xanax is an anti-depression drug that is used to treat anxiety disorders. Edward Romine, 17, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

They're three examples of students bringing prescription drugs to school.

Is it part of a new trend? Or another example of a long-standing problem? Enter your thoughts in the comments section below.