Urgent: DayQuil/NyQuil abuse dangers
prin...@sethigh.org
Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,
We are concerned about potential DayQuil/NyQuil abuse occurring at SET and want to make sure that the whole community is educated on the extreme risk of this so that we can put a stop to it before someone gets seriously injured. Both DayQuil and NyQuil contain acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol), and hopefully everyone knows that taking too much Tylenol can lead to liver damage, liver failure, and death. To make this really clear to the students, this means that taking more than the prescribed dose of DayQuil and NyQuil can also lead to liver damage, liver failure, and death. There are many sources for this on the internet, but this one describes the risk clearly and in plain English: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/acetaminophen-overdose-toxicity
We do not know for certain that students have consumed the medication, but we have found a package of DayQuil/NyQuil in a bathroom trashcan, and opened DayQuil pills have been found unflushed in a toilet. We also know that at least one student has, at minimum, joked about taking a concerningly high dose of the medication. Parents, please watch out for this. Students, please stop this if you see it, do not joke about it in case someone who is less aware of the extreme risk hears you, and certainly stop abusing it if you are.
As a reminder, all medications, even over-the-counter medications, must be checked in at the front office so that the staff can manage the dosage and make sure that the medication is being given with parental consent.
Thank you to the many students who have brought each of these situations to our attention in an effort to keep our students safe. I shudder to think what could happen if you all weren't always looking out for each other! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Dr. McCurdy
(I'm using my usual signature, but am including the disclaimer this time that I have a Ph.D. in computer science and am not a medical doctor. Always consult a professional medical clinician for medical advice.)
