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HELPER, Carbon County — Helper Middle School students who received medical care after ingesting prescription pills that a classmate brought to school are expected to make full recoveries, police said Tuesday.
"They're all fine," Helper Police Chief Trent Anderson said. "No long-lasting effects or anything, just poor decisions."
On May 20, Principal Mika Salas noticed a boy "behaving in an impaired manner" during lunch, the Carbon School District said in a statement. A few other students also appeared to be disoriented.
The school called for medical help and notified Helper police. One boy was taken by ambulance to Castleview Hospital for observation. Six other students apparently took pills as well, Anderson said. Their parents were called and asked to take the students to the hospital as a precaution.
Police believe a girl came to school with a mix of her mother's prescription medications, "divvied them out" to her classmates and took some pills herself, Anderson said. The chief did not know the specific type or quantity of medication each student ingested.
The girl who brought the pills to school will be referred to juvenile court, Anderson said. The juvenile court will review the cases of the six other students to determine whether formal charges should be filed against them, the chief said.
Anderson said the case is a reminder that people should keep their prescription medications in a safe, secure place to prevent unauthorized use.