LOS ANGELES — More than a dozen middle school students were treated for “possible overdoses” Thursday morning after consuming edibles, officials said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to Walter Reed Middle School on Oct. 17 after at least 17 students, ages 12 and 13, were sickened after they ingested or were exposed to what school officials described as a “banned substance,” KTLA reports. Two students were transported to a local hospital while the others were medically evaluated at the school and released to their parents. All are expected to recover.
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It remains unclear what substances the students may have consumed but officials said they ingested something that resembled candy and then experienced various overdose symptoms. Sixth grader Ariana Arcos told Fox11 that there were “a lot of people throwing up.”
“There was no evidence of any significant fentanyl type drugs. What were described as gummy bears were ingested,” said LAFD Captain Erik Scott. “That’s still being evaluated and is part of an active investigation, but the signs and symptoms were lethargy, increased heart rate, some anxiety type symptoms, so nothing that was life threatening at that point.”
Potential Overdoses Reported at 2 Other LAUSD Schools
Authorities responded to another medical emergency Thursday at 52nd Street Elementary School in South Los Angeles. Two patients reportedly experienced some type of overdose after possibly ingesting an over-the-counter medication.
“Today, we became aware of two students who may have consumed a nontoxic substance. Emergency personnel were contacted, and their parents were notified,” Los Angeles Unified School District wrote in a statement. “After an initial check from paramedics, one student’s parent declined medical attention.”
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Last Monday, five Nobel Charter Middle School students in Northridge, Los Angeles, fell ill after possibly ingesting a “banned substance,” authorities said. Three students were taken to the hospital in fair condition while two were released to their guardians after being evaluated at the school, according to Newsweek.
With Halloween just around the corner, Los Angeles School Police Department Officer Allen Chavez said edibles are a concern for school police because they often appear in gummy form.
“We ask that you talk to your children about substance abuse and the harmful side effects of controlled substances,” Walter Reed Middle School Principal Paul De Bonis wrote in a statement to the school community. “We need your help to educate our students about the harms that drugs can cause.”
