HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A Henry County father says his child was sent to a hospital after prescription drugs were handed out like candy at school.
Nwankwo Jackson told Channel 2’s Matt Johnson that his son was one of four children who were rushed to the hospital from Mt. Carmel Elementary School.
“I am grateful that nobody died,” Jackson said. “Just being there looking at the children, they were looking like zombies.”
Jackson said he and three other parents got the scary call Friday from the school when their children suffered side effects of prescription drugs that weren't theirs and were on their way to a nearby hospital.
The father told Johnson he saw two boys and two girls there.
“They’re just falling asleep. They just look like they drugged up, and it made me some type of way as a parent. I actually felt for them,” Jackson said.
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Johnson obtained the 911 call made from the school when staff called for help.
Dispatcher: Do you know what kind of medication they took?
Caller: Yes. They took Clonidine, Clonidine. It’s used to, it’s used for ADHD but also to lower blood pressure.
Jackson’s son told him the student tricked him into taking the pill.
“She had advised all of them it was candy,” Jackson said.
A school spokesperson sent Johnson a statement, saying:
“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.”
Jackson is thankful his son has recovered but said this close call has him demanding accountability.
“It’s a lot of questions I want answered,” Jackson said.
Clonidine is a drug that can be prescribed to children but comes with serious side effects, like changes in blood pressure and extreme drowsiness, that none of the children or parents were aware of.
The district did not provide information on whether the student with the pills would face discipline.
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