Parents in Texas were shocked to discover that their preschoolers were allegedly given sleep aids by their teachers without any notice. The children referred to these patches as “sleepy stickers,” saying they helped them fall asleep during school hours. These patches, which contain melatonin and are meant for adults, were reportedly used on several young students.
The alarming situation came to light in September when 4-year-old Layne Luviano, a student at Northgate Crossing Elementary School, took one of the patches home. Her mother, Lisa Luviano, was stunned when Layne showed her the patch. “She kind of pulled up her little shorts and said, ‘Mom, look this is my sleeping sticker,’ and I was like, what?” Lisa immediately contacted other parents to see if their children had also been given the patches.
Several other parents confirmed that their kids had received similar “sleepy stickers.” Melissa Gilford, whose daughter also attends the school, said her 4-year-old recognized the patch right away. She was disturbed after reading the ingredients, noting, “It has a lot of things I’ve never even heard of.” Another parent, Najala Abdullah, said her son had also been given the patches. She noticed changes in his behavior, including crying, refusing to eat, and bringing home uneaten lunches. Abdullah said, “They were giving them drugs to make them sleep to keep them quiet.”
The school’s principal confirmed that two staff members have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway. The district’s police department is also involved in the case. School district officials made it clear that giving students any substance without parental consent violates district policy, and appropriate action will be taken once the investigation is complete.
