4 suspended after adult sleep aids allegedly given to Texas preschoolers

Four staff members at a Texas elementary school have been placed on leave after parents complained their preschool-aged children were given “sleepy stickers” dosed with drugs meant for adults.

The patches, sold on Amazon, contain melatonin, a hormone used to regulate sleep, reported local KHOU.

One parent discovered the sleep scheme when her 4-year-old child showed her the patch that was under her shorts.

“The sticker makes me fall asleep,” the child told her mom, Lisa Luviano, according to local 12 News.

When Luviano discovered the sleep patches available for purchase online, she immediately notified her daughter’s school, Northgate Crossing Elementary, which is part of the Spring Independent School District (Spring ISD). 

School administrators didn’t take any apparent action and even told parents that talking about the incident would hinder their investigation, said the local news station.  

So Luviano contacted parents at Northgate Crossing via text, who subsequently confirmed that their children too were getting “sleepy stickers” in class to make them sleep, according to The New York Post.  

Parent Melissa Gilford said her four-year old recognized the patch, saying, “Yes, that’s the sleepy sticker,” reported KHOU. 

Another parent told KHOU that she noticed changes in her son since the start of school, such as crying and not eating. He even brought home lunches that were never eaten.  

“They’re giving them drugs to make them sleep to keep them quiet,” Najala Abdullah told KHOU. 

But Luviano expects more from the school. 

“We brought the evidence up there, and we filed a report,” Luviano told the Post, adding she wanted to file criminal charges. 

The district sent a statement to KHOU in response to inquiries about the investigation:  

“Northgate Elementary administration was notified by a parent that their child was given a sleeping aid patch in the classroom by their teacher. Upon learning of the allegation the teachers in that classroom were immediately removed and placed on administrative leave. As a precautionary measure, two paraprofessionals in that classroom have also been placed on administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation by the Spring ISD Police Department, as this incident violates our Board Policy FFAC (LOCAL).” 

The Post identified the “stickers” as the ZPatch, which contains “Sensoril Ashwagandha, Melatonin, Hops, Valerian Root and more to deliver a night of sleep worth bragging about,” according to the company’s website. 

The Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) says that melatonin has sometimes been associated with mood disturbances, headaches and dizziness, as well as night terrors, nightmares and other sleep disturbances when used by children. 

“We strongly recommend that parents talk with either their pediatrician or another pediatric healthcare provider before starting their child on melatonin,” said Dr. Antoinette Burns, who specializes in pediatrics and sleep medicine at CHC. 

Similarly, Healthline said that while Ashwagandha may generally be considered safe, it’s not safe for everyone, especially as it can interfere with existing medications.  

“It’s important to check with a healthcare professional before taking ashwagandha to ensure it’s safe for you and that you use a safe dose,” Healthline concluded.