Swansboro Middle School officials are shocked by an apparent on-campus drug deal that sent two pupils to a hospital for treatment last week - but they vowed to tackle the problem head-on.

Although its use occurred off-campus, the Ecstasy - also known as XTC, X or E - was apparently traded on the sixth-eighth grade campus early last week, said Jeannie Baker, assistant principal.

The notion that "this occurred under our watch" has shocked and saddened the school's faculty and staff, said Lori Howard, principal.

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