Candy and Pills Send Students To Hospital
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Six Students from Kirby Middle Transported to Hospital
1/27/2005

by Stephanie Scurlock

MEMPHIS,TN - Brittnay Cathey is one of 10 students rushed to Lebonheur hospital from Kirby Middle School. 6 boys and 4 girls were involved. Our cameras are there as the girls arrive in ambulances. One by one they're loaded onto stretchers and wheeled into the emergency room.

They appear lathargic and somewhat disoriented but all the girls are awake.Witnesses say the boys were unconscious when they arrived. Brittnay Cathey, a 7th grader, and another girl were allowed to go home about 2 hours after arriving. The others stayed behind in the emergency room

The boys reportedly told students they were selling the candy for a fundraiser and never told them it might have been laced with something. Brittany's mother and grandmother are relieved she is going to be alright. They're praying for the boys as they try and understand how this could happen inside a middle school.

Students Pass Out in Class: RX Drugs Blamed
Posted: 1/27/2005 9:14:43 PM

The students passed out at Kirby Middle school Thursday morning. By Thursday evening, six of the ten children were still at Le Bonheur.

Eyewitness News is told six boys and four girls took the drugs. All were in the 7th grade.

Many passed out in class. That's when paramedics were called.

School officials say the pills were strong anti-depressants handed out by one of the boys. Some may have been passed off to kids as candy.


Memphis City Schools has a zero tolerance policy on drugs in school. No word on exactly what punishment the students will face.