CdA ninth-graders overdose on Robitussin
Five ninth-grade girls were admitted to a Coeur d’Alene hospital Thursday afternoon after overdosing on cough medicine at school. They may be penalized for their actions.
The Lakeland Junior High students each took 10 to 15 Robitussin capsules in an attempt to “get high,” Assistant Superintendent Ron Schmidt said.
At about 1 p.m., they all started feeling sick and some threw up, Schmidt said. Paramedics came to the Rathdrum school and took the students to Kootenai Medical Center. In cases like this, patients undergo assessments, blood testing and observation, hospital spokeswoman Lisa Johnson said. The students were released in good condition by 5 p.m. but now face possible punishment from the school district and investigation by police.
A group of students allegedly left school during lunch and stole the medicine from the Rathdrum IGS store, said Lt. Alex Carrington of the Rathdrum Police Department. A school resource officer later found Robitussin packages in a trash can, Carrington said. Police may file shoplifting charges.
The school district is conducting its own investigation, Schmidt said.
“There certainly is a violation of school board policy, and they will face the consequences – no question,” he added.
The degree of punishment would depend on each student’s role in the incident – whether she was a consumer or distributor, for example, Schmidt said. Suspension, probation and expulsion all are possible sanctions under the district’s tobacco, alcohol and drug policy.
The potential health effects of the medicine depend on which type was ingested, said Barry Feely, a pharmacist at Medicine Man in Coeur d’Alene. An excess of any Robitussin medicine would cause someone to be sick to her stomach because it contains guaifenesin, which works by irritating the gastrointestinal tract, thinning the mucus and making it easier to cough up, Feely said.
However, some Robitussins also contain dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant that is a low-end member of the narcotic family. In large doses, it could act as a suppressant and be potentially life-threatening because it could slow down someone’s breathing or put her in a coma, Feely said. Other Robitussins contain pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant that in large doses could cause excess stimulation and possibly seizures, he added.
“It’s kind of a wake-up call to some of the kids,” Feely said. “Just because they’re over-the-counter drugs, that doesn’t necessarily always mean they’re free of danger, especially if it’s not used according to product labeling.”
Taken in high amounts, the ingredients in cold medicines can cause symptoms ranging from dizziness and light-headedness to heart arrhythmias and liver damage, said John Woon, a pharmacist at Kootenai Medical Center.
Acetaminophen, the lead ingredient in products like Tylenol, can cause liver failure in high dosages, Woon noted.
“They need to get them to the emergency room right away,” he said. “They can have life-threatening complications.”
Signs of cold medicine overdose can include slurred speech and sleepiness or, conversely, hyperactivity and dilated pupils, Woon said.
The district will continue to teach students about intoxicants and develop their decision-making skills, Schmidt said.
“Drugs-alcohol-tobacco is a part of our culture, unfortunately,” he added. “Maybe we can make this a teachable moment.”