Children need constant
reminders about drugs

An incident that occurred in Howell Middle School North on Feb. 8 points out the necessity for parents to constantly remind their children about the dangers of drugs.

In this case, it wasn’t an illegal substance that got some youngsters in trouble; instead, it was a prescription medication that one student brought into school.

According to school and police officials, four students at the middle school received suspensions from school and subsequent police charges due to their alleged involvement in an exchange of prescription medication.

School authorities said the exchange of medication among students came to light when a female student went to the school nurse’s office complaining of abdominal pain. The juvenile was reportedly afraid that she was having a reaction to a drug she had taken and told the school nurse she had ingested a prescription pill she received from another student.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Enid Golden told Greater Media Newspapers that additional questioning by school administrators revealed that at least two other juveniles also reportedly took the pills, which were a medication prescribed for hyperactivity issued in the name of the student who was alleged to have dispensed the pills. The superintendent said the medication was not Ritalin, but declined to say what it was.

Police said all four students who were involved in the incident were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The juvenile who brought the medication to school was also charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

These are serious legal charges that could have significant repercussions on the students involved. Dealing with the charges will cost the youngsters’ parents financially, and everyone involved will have some degree of emotional distress.

It is a case of young people failing to think through the consequences of their actions. It’s not the first time such a thing has happened and it won’t be the last time.

The situation at Howell Middle School North needed to be brought to the public’s attention so that all parents can continue to warn their children that drugs — both legal and illegal — are not candy and should not be shared among friends.

It also gave Howell school administrators an opportunity to restate the district’s policy that all prescription medications must be brought to the nurse’s office, where they may only be dispensed to the student in whose name the prescription was written.

Bringing this story to light, however, took a great deal of persistence on the part of Greater Media Newspapers, which asked questions for nearly a week after the incident occurred before getting the facts from school administrators. Whatever the reason, that was too long, and the delay made it appear as if those in charge were reluctant to report the situation to the community.