VIDALIA — Three of four Vidalia Junior High School students suspected of bringing prescription drugs to school have been suspended and will attend alternative school, school officials said Friday.

The fourth student was found not to have been involved, school officials said.

Whest Shirley, Concordia Parish Schools superintendent, would not confirm Friday the number of students suspended, saying only “some received alternative school.”

At the time of the Oct. 1 incident, however, Lt. Miranda Clifton, criminal investigator with the Vidalia Police Department, said four students were charged with “possession of a legend drug without prescription” and released to their parents.

On Oct. 1, police acted on a tip that drugs were being passed around the school and in some cases ingested.

Upon investigation, officers retrieved the drug guanfacine hydrochloride, a prescription drug used to treat ADHD and hypertension.

Shirley would not say the length of time the students would spend at alternative school, but had earlier said the punishments are determined by state statute and not school policy and under state law suspension could be up to one year for possession of drugs.

“They’ve done the hearings and done what they’ve done,” Shirley said. “We have mandates required to follow of the punishment established. Hopefully we won’t have to deal with this again.”