2 teens are accused of distributing Rx pills

CEDAR CITY — Cedar City police arrested two 14-year-old boys accused of handing out anti-seizure pills to classmates at Cedar Middle School.

Investigators say the teens were seen at school Wednesday, passing out the anti-seizure medication Clonazepam to fellow students.

"There'd been some kids who witnessed them passing pills back and forth," said Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack. "They notified the school administration, who called us."

The boys were booked into the Iron County Juvenile Detention facility Wednesday on investigation of distributing a controlled substance on school property, a second-degree felony. Womack said that under questioning one teen told officers he brought the pills from home.

"They were giving it away," Womack said. "We didn't have any indication that anybody got sick. One kid did admit to taking it at school."

Clonazepam is used to combat seizures and is a central nervous system depressant. The National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Library of Medicine Web site said Clonazepam is used to relieve anxiety, but can also be used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, twitching, schizophrenia and pain management. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness and weakness. It can also be habit forming.