The school board in Merrill has expelled eight high school students for prescription drug violations. Superintendent Sally Sarnstrom says the students were either possessing, selling or taking the drugs on campus, and board members had no choice other than to follow the zero tolerance policy. Sarnstrom says the expulsions of eight students at Merrill High school offer the latest piece of evidence of a national trend of teenagers abusing prescription drugs instead of illegal drugs like marijuana. Sarnstrom says the students will be allowed to return to school only after they complete counseling and pass three drug tests.