Three students accused of putting drugs in lunch

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) - Three northern Indiana middle school students are facing disciplinary action after being accused of putting the prescription narcotic Vicodin on another student's lunch.

The boy's mother told WSBT-TV that her son became ill about 20 minutes after eating the lunch last Wednesday. The seventh-grader says he left the lunch table at John Young Middle School in Mishawaka and when he returned and resumed eating his food tasted bitter.

Superintendent Terry Barker says school officials determined the classmates had laced the lunch with the painkiller as a prank. He says the boys didn't think about the consequences. He says the three are not in school while the investigation continues.

Barker says Mishawaka police were notified, but he's not aware of any police action being taken against the students.