Drug Users at Camp Released From Hospital : Illness: Wards of Riverside County court had reacted to tranquilizers smuggled into O.C.’s Lazy W Ranch.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO —  The last of the wards of the Riverside County court who were hospitalized over the weekend after taking a strong prescription drug at an Orange County camp were released Monday in good condition, authorities said.

Paul Rout, assistant director for the Department of Social Services in Riverside County, said the seven campers ingested prescription tranquilizers that one had smuggled into the Lazy W Ranch on Hot Springs Road, where they spent the weekend.

“He had not been taking them the way he should have been, and [was] stockpiling them,” Rout said.

After taking the drugs Saturday, some of the users became dizzy, disoriented and started vomiting, and had to be taken to two area hospitals, Rout said. None of the symptoms were life-threatening, Rout said.

The wards, all 16 to 21 years old, were enjoying an outing at the camp, which also housed others from group homes throughout Southern California. A spokeswoman said the camp activity was part of Riverside County’s Independent Life Skills Program for dependent and delinquent children. Although they were from Riverside County, some wards had been referred to Riverside from other counties.

At first, none of the campers volunteered any information, Rout said. But subsequent questioning revealed that the one who had brought in the drugs identified them as psychotropic, Rout said. Rout did not know the name of the drug.

Officials would not release the names of the campers, who are either on probation or wards of the Riverside County court.

Rout said the camper had saved up the medication--a mood elevator or antidepressant--and brought the pills to the camp against regulations. He spread the pills out on the table and he and six companions took some, Rout said.

They were listed in good to stable condition and some were released as early as Sunday, while others were kept longer for observation, a Riverside County spokeswoman said.

The county’s Department of Social Services is investigating those involved, said Arleen Colson of the county’s Probation Department.

“We’re looking at any of our kids involved for possible further prosecution,” Colson said.

Times staff writer Lee Romney contributed to this report.