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CLEARLAKE – Police arrested four teenagers this week for selling prescription pills at Lower Lake High School.
Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police Department reported that School Resource Officer Carl Miller arrested one student Wednesday and three others on Thursday for possession and sales of controlled substances.
Hermann said the students are alleged to have brought prescription medication – specifically, muscle relaxers – to campus and were selling the pills for $1 each.
The four students were all males, ages 15 and 16, said Hermann.
The first was arrested Wednesday after being found in possession of the pills and under the influence, Hermann said. The student was later issued a citation and released due to his condition at the time.
Later during the day, three female students also were found to be under the influence of the pills, and two of them were transported to the hospital for drug overdoses, according to Hermann's report.
During the investigation, Miller identified the three other male students who were also involved in the sales and distribution of the pills, said Hermann. The three students were subsequently arrested Thursday and transported to Juvenile Hall.
Hermann said police believe that one of the students is responsible for bringing approximately 50 pills to school and splitting them with the other subjects who assisted in selling them.
Miller determined that approximately 32 pills had been sold to students at the school within the last several days, said Hermann.
Cases like those discovered at Lower Lake High appear to be on the rise nationwide.
A 2007 report from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America stated that a disturbing nationwide trend is seeing more teenagers abusing prescription drugs.
The partnership's studies have shown that more teens abuse prescription drugs than any other illicit drug, with the exception of marijuana.
One in five teens – or 4.5 million teenagers across the US – reported abusing a prescription pain medication, with the same number reporting abuse of a prescription stimulant or tranquilizer. In addition, one in 10 reported abuse cough and cold medicines, some of them containing the active ingredient dextromethorphan, according to the report.
The research also showed that only about one-third of parents discuss the dangers of prescription drug abuse with their teenagers.
A Web site for teens, www.checkyourself.com/, supported by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, offers resources to help educate young people about drug and alcohol abuse.
Hermann said the investigation into the prescription drug sales at Lower Lake High School is continuing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Miller at 994-8251.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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