Six children were hospitalized Wednesday after consuming candy now believed to be cannabis-infused at the Boys & Girls Club in Lauderhill, Florida, according to multiple reports.
The Lauderhill Police Department was called to the Boys and Girls Club three times after eight children consumed candy, police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Officers responded to emergency calls between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time.
In one of the 911 calls, the caller explained, “A 6-year-old female brought edibles and then fed them to the children,” reports 7News Miami.
After police and firefighters arrived at the club at 5455 NW 19th St., the two children were treated at the center and released to their parents. The remaining six were transported to the hospital in stable condition for further evaluation. In the meantime, they have been released from the hospital, the police said.
A club representative confirmed to NBC 6 on Wednesday that the three children are doing better and have returned to the center for afternoon school.
SC Elementary School teacher accused of keeping edible marijuana in a student’s prize box
The children who consumed the candy were between the ages of 6 and 8, NBC 6 reports.
One of the children who swallowed the gummies brought them to the center and shared them with seven other children, a Boys & Girls Club representative confirmed to NBC 6.
“As soon as they became aware of the situation, the staff reacted immediately by contacting the local authorities and medical staff, who quickly responded to the club facility. We are continuing to monitor the situation and the status of all youths involved,” said Jay Juliano, a spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, according to 7News Miami. “The safety and protection of the young people we serve are always our highest priority and we take any situation that could affect their well-being very seriously.”
All parents have been notified of the incident and there are now “no concerns” for the children’s health, Lauderhill police said in a statement. Their investigation is ongoing, and the substance with which the candy was “potentially laced” remains unconfirmed, police said.
“At this time, no charges have been filed in connection with this incident,” police said.
Police say the 16-year-old student overdosed on fentanyl, possibly from smoking marijuana
Want to keep up with the latest crime reports? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for the latest crime news, coverage of ongoing trials and details on intriguing unsolved cases.
The recent incident joins 443 calls to Florida poison control centers related to edible marijuana exposure, 37.5% of which occurred in children age 5 or younger in 2023, Florida Poison Control Center spokeswoman Wendy Stephan said in Miami. , reports The Sun Sentinel of South Florida.
According to Children’s Hospital Colorado, when children consume too much cannabis they can experience serious health problems, including confusion, hallucinations, rapid heart rate and vomiting, while in severe cases children can have trouble breathing or go into a coma.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that in 2017, there were 207 cases of children under the age of 6 consuming edible cannabis, and then that number increased by more than 1,375% in 2021, totaling 3,054 cases. Studies have also revealed that 97% of children find edibles at home.
A spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club of Lauderhill did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education