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Over-The-Counter Drug Sends 2 Students To The Hospital

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – Two middle school students were sent to the hospital after taking too much of a cold medicine that's sold at stores.

It happened in Adams County at Ranum Middle school on Friday.

One of the girls who went to the hospital told her mother that she took eight Coricidin HBP pills.

That dosage hit her pretty quickly while sitting in class and the school ended up rushing her to the hospital.

"We send our kids to school to be safe, educated and protected. You don't expect anything like this to happen, that they could possibly not come home," said mother Kelly Thoms.

Thoms didn't expect her daughter would end up in the hospital when she left for school.

"I was scared that I was going to lose my daughter," said Thoms.

Thoms says her story is a teachable moment for all parents to learn about what's referred to as "Triple C."

It's a legal, over the counter could medicine that is commonly being used to get high when taken in high doses.

Thom's daughter along with three other students took the Coricidin HBP while in class.

"Apparently it can have some hallucinatory effects and makes you feel out of it," said Steve Saunders from Adams County school District 50.

The school district says another student alerted administrators who not only found packaging in the trash cans, but discovered of the four girls who took the pills, two needed to be sent to the hospital after getting sick.

"Eyes rolling back in her head, pupils were dilated to a ten, no color in her eyes. Pale, shaking," said Thoms.

She says her daughter still isn't feeling well but is recovering.

"It's very upsetting that children know what this is or have access to it," said Thoms.

The district is urging parents to talk to their children about "Triple C" and its dangers.

"I think you have to look for your moments to talk to your kids. Whether it's this incident or a celebrity and what's happened to them and say, it's not okay," said Saunders.

Three of the students have been suspected and the girl who brought the drugs to school is in the process of expulsion.

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