Final tally: 10 Ozark High students were involved in Homecoming drug distribution case

All are under 17 years old.

October 05, 2010|by Sara Forhetz, KY3 News | sforhetz@ky3.com

OZARK, Mo. – The Christian County Juvenile Justice Department released more details on Tuesday about the Ozark High School students caught with prescription drugs on campus. All of the students involved are under 17 years old.

Juvenile officers say they finally have all the reports in this prescription drug abuse case, and 10 students are involved. Two are being investigated for distributing prescription pills; the other eight are in trouble for possession. Whether it's distribution or possession, both could be felonies.

"We have numerous school districts in Christian County and we see it at the majority of them. We've seen reports in the last few years of this same type of activity,” said juvenile officer Terri Goodall.

Goodall is investigating the crime. She says the most common type of pill popping by young kids involves hydrocodone and oxycodone.

"Whether it's a kid’s own medication that was prescribed by a doctor or from a parent's medicine cabinet, it happens all the time,” said Goodall.

The juvenile officer says the court’s discipline is totally separate from the high school’s discipline. An Ozark School District official declined to talk about the case or the discipline that the students face, but did give a reporter a copy of the district’s drug abuse policy. It says the student should be referred for prosecution, and will be subject to suspension, expulsion, or any other discipline outlined in the school’s policy.

This growing problem among teens is certain to bring longer-term consequences than any short term high.

"We will take into account who was more involved,” said Goodall.

Some of these teens could be tried as adults if a judge finds their charges are serious enough. If that's the case, both possession and distribution of controlled substances are felonies. If they’re convicted, they could face 5- to 15-year prison sentences for distribution, and one- to seven-year sentences for possession. If they are tried as juveniles, punishment can vary greatly depending on the student's history.

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