Editor’s note: The original version of this story included a typo in the parenthetical information inside Dr. Benny Wright’s quote. We regret the typo and have corrected it below.

NATCHEZ — School Board member Dr. Benny Wright posed questions Thursday to leaders of the Natchez-Adams School District about the use of behavior-modifying drugs among students.

Wright said during the board’s regular meeting he has received data that 20 percent of the students at Frazier Primary School take behavior-modifying drugs, which treat learning disabilities such as attention deficit disorder.

“Hopefully that (percentage) is high (compared to other schools),” Wright said.

Board member David Troutman, who said he used to teach special education, said the board should be wary to comment about what medications students are taking.

“(I was) taught over and over again (as an educator), ‘do not diagnose,’” Troutman said. “We need to be very careful pulling up this information.”

Board President Wayne Barnett said he the thought people in public education should know facts about the number of students taking behavior medication drugs.

“We need to be aware of (what is) not just problem in Adams County but throughout the nation,” Barnett said.

In addition to other information, Wright requested the board seek information about the qualifications families must meet though the Social Security Administration to receive a monthly check for families of children with learning disabilities.

“(I want to took into) diminishing the effects (of drugs) for those who have no psychological reason, but a financial (reason),” Wright said.

Troutman said suggesting too many children take behavior-modifying drugs might already be getting too involved in the process from an educator’s perspective.

Wright also requested information about the number of students taking behavior-modifying drugs at each school, about the performance levels of children taking the medicine, and about the number of students taking behavior-modifying drugs in nearby and high performing schools.

Wright also requested the board meet with Michael Winn Jr. regarding dosages and side effects of compounds used most frequently in behavior-modification drugs.

Wright said he hoped the administration could work on retrieving the requested data to be presented at a future meeting.