NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Four students who became ill on Monday in class will face criminal charges on suspicion of taking prescription drugs at the Volusia County middle school.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said a school resource deputy at New Smyrna Beach Middle School was notified at about 11:08 a.m. that four students, all of whom are eighth-grade girls, were complaining of sickness.

Two of the students were transported to the hospital by ambulance and one student was taken to the hospital by her parents, deputies said. The fourth student was taken to her family doctor by her parents, deputies said. Three were treated and released, but the fourth girl stayed at a medical center overnight.

Deputies said one of the four girls took three separate medications to school and shared them with another girl, who gave it to the others. A teacher had noticed that the girls were acting "out of it" and sent them to the office, deputies said.

The sheriff's office said all four girls will be charged with distribution and possession of prescription medication.

Parents at the school were shocked to hear the news.

"It's terrifying that children are able to do this without the parents even knowing it," mother Darla Newell said.

"They need to start cracking down on these kids, making parents watch their medications," father Jeff Snyder said,

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