MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police and paramedics were called to Hamilton Elementary School Wednesday after several students took pills given to them by a classmate.
When a teacher asked a 9-year-old student why he kept falling asleep in class, he said another student gave him a pill. The teacher learned other students had taken pills as well and alerted the principal, who called police.
A 10-year-old boy told police he took the pills from his mother, then gave them to the other students while on the bus. His mother said the pills were Guanfacine hydrochloride 2 mg, which is commonly used to treat hypertension and ADHD.
Antonio Cathey’s little brother attends Hamilton Elementary. He came to the school when he saw all the commotion.
“It’s very shocking it’s an elementary school. You know, sometimes kids don’t have guidance and they see stuff laying around the house and they have a tendency to pick it up and take it to school,” Cathey said.
Shelby County School officials said the students weren’t seriously sick and didn’t go to the hospital. They were released to their parents.
Parent Angela Ryan said this is a good reminder for parents to check on their kids when they send them to school.
“Kids are doing all kinds of stuff these days so they need to watch their kids you know when they leave their house and check their backpacks, that’s what they need to do,” Ryan said.
Another woman, 26-year-old Aylicia Williams, went to the school to check on her child and was taken into custody for a felony drug warrant.
