Eleven students who were sickened at McFadden Intermediate School in Santa Ana had taken the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, officials said Tuesday.
The students took the Xanax willingly, Diedra Powell of the Santa Ana Unified School District told The Orange County Register.
Authorities said they believe the medication was given to the children by a fellow student, Powell said.
The children, nine girls and two boys between 11 and 14 years old, showed signs of lethargy on Monday, according to school district officials.
All were taken to a hospital and released.
Paramedics were sent to the campus in the 2700 block of Raitt Street about 12:10 p.m., said Capt. Larry Kurtz of the Orange County Fire Authority.
None of the children suffered a life-threatening injury, Kurtz said.
The case was being investigated by officers from the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department, Kurtz said.
—City News Service