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Two OK after taking concentrated medicine

By Dominick DiRienzo, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, October 18, 2002
Two Butler Area School District students have been released from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh after taking capsules containing a concentration of a cough suppresant.

The student who provided the capsules containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, was taken into custody and charged in Butler county juvenile court with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, police said. The suspect's name is not being released because of his age.

Sgt. John Hays of the Butler Township police said one student described himself as being comatose after taking the drug, while the other said "he was out of it."

Dextromethorphan is cough suppresant found in some over-the-counter drugs. Taking large amounts of DXM can cause hallucinations or euphoric sensations along with nausea and schizophrenic behavior.

Butler Township police responded to the reported overdose Wednesday at the Butler Area Senior High School. An assistant principal told police that a 17-year-old male student had gone to the nurse's office and became incoherent.

The student indicated he took a capsule containing DXM before going to school. A 16-year-old male student showed similar symptoms and indicated he also had taken a capsule containing DXM. This student identified the person who provided the capsules, police said.

The victims were transported to Butler Memorial Hospital and later transferred to Children's Hospital, Oakland. A spokeswoman said Thursday that the students had been released.

Hays said police in his department have heard of DXM, but this is the first time the department has handled a case involving it.

Hays said DXM is not a controlled substance, which is why the suspect is not facing any drug charges.

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