Online 'Challenge' Involving Drugs Leaves 15 School Kids Needing Medical Attention

Fifteen students from the 5th and 6th grades at a school in Mexico had to be given medical treatment after they took part in an online "challenge" that involves taking tranquilizers to see which student drops the last.

The children are believed to have taken the tranquilizers to see who can stay awake the longest. "The last one to fall asleep wins," the challenge says.

The incident occurred Monday in the north-central city of Guanajuato, just days after health authorities issued a national alert about the dangerous online challenge, according to AP News.

The students were provided medical attention at the school, making it the fourth such incident to take place at a Mexican school since last year.

Guanajuato Mayor Alejandro Navarro urged people to keep an eye on their children and pay special attention to what they are exposed to online.

"I regret the poisoning suffered by 15 students of the Esuela Del Sol, already attended by Civil Protection ya," read a translation of Navarro's message on Facebook.

"I ask parents and guardians to keep a close eye on what your children and students are up to, and their use of social networks. Programs like Planet Youth help us raise awareness," he added. "I also request the competent authorities to do their part to attend the case and prevent this type of incidents [sic]."

The condition of the kids was not immediately clear. Details about how the school students got hold of the tranquilizers were also not immediately released either.

Prior to the incident, officials released an alert about the dangers of a tranquilizer named clonazepam on Jan. 25, about a week after a separate but similar incident took place at a Mexico City middle school.

Eight students needed medical attention for taking "controlled medication" in the previous incident. Some of the eight students also needed to be admitted to the hospital, according to Latin Post.

Authorities warned people about clonazepam in the alert and also urged people to inform law enforcement agencies if they are aware of anyone selling the tranquilizer without a prescription.

Children were also warned to steer clear of such dangerous online trends. "The call is also for children and adolescents not to participate or promote challenges that put their lives at risk," the department wrote.