Three Catoosa Students Rushed To Hospital After Taking Antipsychotic Pills

Lacie Lowry, News On 6

CATOOSA, Oklahoma -- Three Catoosa middle school students were sent to the hospital Tuesday for taking antipsychotic drugs.

A Catoosa middle schooler stole the prescription pills from mom's medicine chest and passed them out to her friends.

Jodie Tester is more thankful than ever that her two middle schoolers communicate with her.

"They came home and said 'Mom, you're not going to believe this. There were kids at school that were taking drugs today.' They didn't know what they had taken, that's why I was so concerned," she said.

When Tester found out what type of drug three other middle schoolers had taken, she panicked.

"It's one of the safest places your children can be and here, something like that happens, you worry. It's just heartbreaking," she said.

Two girls and a boy popped the pills Tuesday before third hour at Wells Middle School.

"First time in sixteen years I've been here I've ever had people actually take pills," Chief Kevin McKim, Catoosa Campus Police, said.

Campus police Chief Kevin McKim says the drugs took immediate effect on one boy.

"Clammy, has a low rate of blood pressure, unsteady on his feet, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech," he said.

The boy was taken to the hospital and finally admitted he had taken a 400 milligram pill of Seroquel, a drug used to treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

Both girls were then sent to the hospital for treatment too.

The girl who took the pills from her mother was later arrested for possession and distribution of a controlled drug on school property.

The District Attorney is now reviewing the case.

"Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a loss of an individual before it really hits home and we don't want it to get to that," Chief McKim said.

The police chief wants parents to monitor their prescription meds, know how many pills they have and keep them in a safe place.

"I couldn't believe it. Honestly, I would think that a parent with having that strong of a medication would have it in a lockbox," Tester said.

Catoosa Public Schools has invited Rogers County Youth Services to talk with all middle school students Thursday about the consequences of prescription abuse.