Four Henry County elementary school students were taken to the hospital Friday after they took prescription medication while in class, the district told Channel 2 Action News.
The Mt. Carmel Elementary School students took Clonidine, which is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Channel 2 reported. A parent of one of the children said his 8-year-old son was told by another student that it was candy.
“She had advised all of them it was candy,” Nwankwo Jackson told the news station. “I am grateful that nobody died.”
Jackson's son, another boy and two girls were taken to the hospital due to the drugs' side effects, Channel 2 reported. Those side effects can include changes in blood pressure and drowsiness among others, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Just being there, looking at the children, they were looking like zombies,” Jackson said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
In a 911 call obtained by the news station, a school employee is heard telling the dispatcher that they knew the medication was Clonidine.
A Henry County Schools spokesperson sent Channel 2 a statement about the incident that said:
“The students who took the medication received immediate and appropriate medical attention. The safety and well-being of our students is our first priority, and we are currently investigating the matter to learn how this happened and ensure something like this does not happen again.”
The statement did not say whether the student who allegedly had the pills would face discipline, the news station reported. The students affected were all released from the hospital and have returned to class.
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