Mar 1, 2007 7:30 pm US/Eastern
Father Of New Castle Overdose Victim Speaks Out
by Marty Griffin
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
A father speaks out after his daughter overdoses at school.
Sixteen year-old Erica Million was rushed to Children's Hospital earlier this week after she was found unconscious in a classroom at New Castle High School.
KDKA's Marty Griffin reports Gary Mumford choked on every word and fought back tears as he talked about his daughters Erica's condition.
Right now, she is unconscious and fighting for her life at Children's Hospital.
"She is not conscious," said Mumford. "It's a very serious condition."
Mumford says he wants the public to know the truth about his daughter Erica.
"Erica was given a painkiller by one of her fellow students," he said. "She then became sick from the medication. She laid her head down on her desk during a classroom movie. She was not moving. She was not noticed for 20 to 30 minutes. She suffered severe lung damage that led to cardiac arrest."
New castle police are investigating allegations the teenager bought three Oxycontin pills from another student in the classroom and took them.
Even though the school kept students in their classrooms while paramedics responded, word of the overdose spread fast as did rumors Erica may have tried to hurt herself.
That angers her father.
"Erica has been an enthusiastic, energetic caring little girl and we do not believe whatsoever her intent was to harm herself," said Mumford.
Oxycontin, the drug authorities believe million overdosed on, is a prescription painkiller that can be addictive if abused.
Investigators say Million snorted three of the pills which was the equivalent of taking 48 Percoset.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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