Iowa School Gave Students 'Dangerous' Levels of Drugs: Lawsuit

DES MOINES, IA — Advocacy groups are saying the Boys State Training School, an Iowa facility for young offenders, administers "dangerous" psychotropic medications without adequate oversight and consent.

Disability Rights Iowa and the national watchdog organization Children's Rights filed a lawsuit against the school officials alleging saying it fails to provide adequate mental health care.

The lawsuit says school officials are unlawfully using seclusion rooms and full-body restraints, and don't have enough mental health professionals at the Eldora facility, which is about 60 miles north of Des Moines.

The Iowa Department of Human Services runs the school. Three department officials are named as defendants.

The agency says it doesn't comment on pending litigation. But it defended the school when Disability Rights Iowa released a report raising concerns earlier this year.

By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press

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