Students disciplined over synthetic drugs

A school district in the suburbs north of New York City says it will consider integrating warnings about the potential risks of synthetic drugs that mimic marijuana into its health curriculum after four students were caught with the substance.

Harrison Superintendent Louis Wood tells the Journal News in Saturday editions that the students will be disciplined for bringing the package of synthetic drugs labeled as "incense" to Louis M. Klein Middle School.

The substances can cause hallucinations, seizures and other side effects.

Police Chief Anthony Marraccini says smoking the substance is "just as dangerous as drug use, if not more so."

He said police were called Thursday after rumors spread through the school about students with possible drugs. They talked to the students, as well as their parents.