Youngsters take sleeping pills

CALGARY—Three young Calgary students were in hospital last night after taking a number of prescription sleeping pills over their lunch hour.
CTV Calgary reported the students—all in Grade 5 and 6 at West Dover Elementary—were taken to hospital by school staff and by ambulance.

Calgary Board of Education officials said the students left the school on their lunch hour and when they returned, the principal noticed one of the children was acting strangely, slurring his speech and seeming lethargic.
The boy was asked to lie down and when the principal talked to the student’s brother, she noticed that he, too, was exhibiting the same symptoms.
Teachers overheard students talking about pills and conveyed that information to the principal, who instructed staff to drive the two boys to hospital.
Later in the day, staff found out about a third child who also had taken pills. The child’s family was notified and the student was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The children were being kept in hospital for 24 hours of observation, but all were expected to make a full recovery.
School board officials said the matter would be investigated further today to find out what was behind the pill-taking.