Elementary students in Washington DC are caught using cocaine

Four elementary students from Washington DC schools were recently admitted to the local children's hospital after they ingested cocaine, ABC News reports.

School officials told the news source that some children took the drug orally, while others inhaled it through their nose. The student who brought the narcotic into school is currently being charged with possession of a controlled substance. Meanwhile, all students involved were sent home until further action can be taken.

"Parents will receive another voicemail update tonight," Principal Albert Dupont wrote in a letter . "There is no school this Friday because of previously scheduled teacher meetings, but counselors will come to Thomson on Monday to educate students about the dangers of drugs."

Parents who suspect their children of using drugs may want to explore the services of boarding schools. These learning institutions are home to many troubled teen programs such as individual and recreational therapy.

According to a 2009 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 1.7 percent of students in eighth grade used cocaine at least once in their lifetime.