Students who overdosed on cough medicine will be charged

Rathdrum police will file charges against five high school students who allegedly stole cough medication and overdosed on it last Thursday.

Three of the girls will be charged with burglary, one with petty theft and one with receiving stolen property, Lt. Alex Carrington said. The charges, which reflect the alleged degree of involvement in the incident, should be processed in about 10 days. The students are ninth-graders at Lakeland Junior High.

The Lakeland School District has completed its investigation. Superintendent Chuck Kinsey declined to give details on the findings or punishments, citing student confidentiality. But in cases like this, students are often suspended, Kinsey said.

The district enforces strict guidelines for having medications in school, Lakeland Junior High School Principal John Keating said. Medicine a student needs to take is kept locked and is administered by adults, following directions from parents.

“Kids are not even allowed to carry aspirin here,” Keating said.