HOPEWELL, Va. - Authorities in Virginia on Thursday were still trying to piece together what happened and whether any adults will face criminal charges after seven children took prescription medicine and ended up in the hospital.Police in Hopewell, a small city about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Richmond, said they were called to a home late Wednesday afternoon, where they found four small children unresponsive.
Three more children found in another part of the house were awake, but lethargic. The children ranged between the ages of 1 and 7.Lt.
Cheyenne Casale said police believe a 7-year-old boy took medication he had been prescribed for anxiety, then gave some to the other children.Casale said all of the children remained hospitalized Thursday so doctors could continue to monitor them, but all are expected to make a full recovery.Casale said it was a chaotic scene when police arrived at the home, with the children exhibiting overdose symptoms and several adults "reluctant" to give police information.
The home was recently split into two apartments, he said.At first, authorities believed the children took prescription sleep medication, but they now believe it was an anti-anxiety medication prescribed for the 7-year-old boy, Casale said.He said four of the children lived at the home with their mother and her boyfriend.