Antibiotics are a controlled substance in Virginia??

[FarscapeGirl]

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/10/AR2011031006272.html

So this article is basically about a middle-schooler in Virginia that was expelled from her middle school because (and only because) she had erythromycin in her school locker. The article mentions that the school did this, because the law says that students in possession of 'controlled substances' must be expelled.

I was really surprised that nowhere in the 5 page article did someone point out that an antibiotic is NOT considered part of the Controlled Substances Act, unless Virginia has some crazy rules about drugs. I actually tried e-mailing the reporter, but I'm not sure if it got to her.

This family seriously needs to contact a lawyer.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Sometimes people (media and laypersons) erroneously use "controlled substance" to refer to any prescription drug. Maybe that's it? I have no special knowledge, but doubt abx are scheduled anywhere.

EDIT: after reading the article, I think they are using "controlled substance" to refer to any kind of drug. They say she possessed a "controlled substance, which includes prescription medication."

 

[Dr Wario]

In Virginia, all rx medications not otherwise scheduled by the DEA are classified as schedule VI, thus technically a controlled substance.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

In Virginia, all rx medications not otherwise scheduled by the DEA are classified as schedule VI, thus technically a controlled substance.

Scratch Virginia off as a place I ever want to live, then...

 

[J ROD]

In Virginia, all rx medications not otherwise scheduled by the DEA are classified as schedule VI, thus technically a controlled substance.

I thought SC was backwards.....

 

[Praziquantel86]

This seems like a case of a bunch of idiots blindly enforcing a rule without thinking and getting caught in a power trip in the process. I can't imagine what that girl's life is going to be like after this.

And the girls who ratted her out really exemplify all that is wrong with American middle schools. What a travesty.

 

[rxlea]

I didn't read the article but I just want to know what they think she is going to do with erythromycin... Try to give someone the ****s, or what?

 

[Sparda29]

Yeah, I remember getting in trouble in high school for popping some Motrin in class. Apparently the rule here is that all medications need to be registered with the school nurse and if you need them, you have to ask her for it. Complete bull****.

 

[Pharmavixen]

The rule was enacted to deal with an actual problem, kids peddling their Adderall, Ritalin & Concerta. And like any with rule, there's always the *******s who apply them like a sledgehammer.

 

[ucrx]

Yeah, I remember getting in trouble in high school for popping some Motrin in class. Apparently the rule here is that all medications need to be registered with the school nurse and if you need them, you have to ask her for it. Complete bull****.

Same. We weren't allowed to have ANY medications (prescription or OTC). If we needed anything it had to be kept by the nurse and she would give students their dose.

 

[nnguyenc]

i brought a hand sanitizer to school once

living life on the edge

 

[Twiggy1]

Yeah, I remember getting in trouble in high school for popping some Motrin in class. Apparently the rule here is that all medications need to be registered with the school nurse and if you need them, you have to ask her for it. Complete bull****.

^^^^^ What Sparda said. Having lived in VA for 20 years, you always hear stories on the news of how someone got expelled for having Tylenol or aspirin. Unfortunately, there is no common sense or leeway in the "no tolerance" drug policies in the schools.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Can someone answer to me the thought process of making all drugs in VA a CVI unless stated otherwise? I didn't even know that existed first off, but second why do that when there is a perfectly good legend drug category? I don't see much of a use for this...

Plus now it sounds like the children are bringing vicodin to school. It either makes all the kids sound like drug addicts or it cheapens the term "controlled substance" and it's importance.

 

[KARM12]

In Virginia, all rx medications not otherwise scheduled by the DEA are classified as schedule VI, thus technically a controlled substance.

The same is true in Mass.

 

[FruitFly]

So they're going to ruin a middle-schooler's life over erythromycin? Aren't there real crimes out there to solve? Why is Virginia turning regular school kids into criminals for no reason whatsoever? Because they want to adhere to a rule so much that they can't exercise any discretion or use their heads? If their rules led them to that, then what good was the rule? (to quote Anton Chigurrh)

 

[Dr Wario]

Can someone answer to me the thought process of making all drugs in VA a CVI unless stated otherwise? I didn't even know that existed first off, but second why do that when there is a perfectly good legend drug category? I don't see much of a use for this...

Plus now it sounds like the children are bringing vicodin to school. It either makes all the kids sound like drug addicts or it cheapens the term "controlled substance" and it's importance.

As far as I am aware, they simply did it to better distinguish rx from otc drugs. I agree this case is one that seems like technical law got in the way of common sense, but I also hesitate to pass judgment on this type of article because it is very likely not all the facts are given.

 

[Coredesat]

If I recall correctly, (in Virginia anyway) these zero-tolerance policies even extend to such things as rescue inhalers (albuterol, etc). A student suffering an asthma attack must somehow get to the school nurse to obtain the inhaler before using it; they cannot simply carry the inhaler around. I'm quite surprised there haven't been any reports of students being sent to the ED over this.

 

[ucrx]

If I recall correctly, (in Virginia anyway) these zero-tolerance policies even extend to such things as rescue inhalers (albuterol, etc). A student suffering an asthma attack must somehow get to the school nurse to obtain the inhaler before using it; they cannot simply carry the inhaler around. I'm quite surprised there haven't been any reports of students being sent to the ED over this.

This was the policy in my school district growing up. I didn't have bad asthma, but after one trip to the nurse from a portable classroom (a quick walk OUTSIDE in the winter), I decided to just carry mine and hope no one cared if I needed it.

The sports teams also took ibuprofen like crazy, just kept it hidden in the locker rooms when the coaches weren't in there.

 

[drugdoc]

Schedule VI? Really? Never even learned about it in school. Really?? How commonplace (# states) have a schedule VI? Is there a schedule VII anywhere?