Two Manchester students sick; possible tainted candy
Two Manchester middle school students were brought to the hospital after eating something that school officials indicated may have been tainted or drug-laced candy.
The two girls, students at Illing Middle School, were treated and released Thursday. School officials did not describe what the girls ate, but Assistant School Superintendent Amy Radikas wrote a letter Friday cautioning parents about Halloween treats.
“As we move into Halloween weekend,” Radikas wrote, “I’d like to remind everyone to be careful before eating candy or other treats unless you know where they have come from and what’s in them.
“On Thursday,” she wrote, “two Illing students were taken to the hospital after an adverse reaction to something they had eaten. While we are still investigating the circumstances about that case, this incident is a reminder of how important it is to be cautious when taking candy or treats from others.
“Please remind your children not to eat anything that isn’t commercially wrapped,” Radikas wrote, “and even then, it’s important to inspect wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers.”
District spokesman Jim Farrell wrote a post on a community Facebook page Friday after seeing commentary about students overdosing on candy.
“While there are limits on what I can reveal, I can confirm there was a medical emergency at Illing yesterday,” Farrell wrote. “I can also echo the advice of those who are encouraging everyone to be extra vigilant as we move into Halloween weekend because of all the shared candy.”
Police spokesman Lt. Ryan Shea said the school resource officer at Illing helped get the students transported to the hospital, but he did not know if an investigation was underway.
Attorney General William Tong warned the public recently about the dangers of cannabis edibles and hemp derivatives in packaging designed to look like well-known snack foods and candy.
“These look-alike cannabis products are unregulated, unsafe and illegal,” Tong said. “Accidental cannabis overdoses by children are increasing nationwide, and these products will only make this worse.”
The products may contain high concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, and if eaten by children, can lead to overdose. The most common overdose incidents among children involve ingestion of edible cannabis foods, according to the Department of Homeland Security, and such overdoses are on the rise.
In the first nine months of 2020, 80% of calls related to marijuana edibles to the Poison Control Center involved children. In the first half of this year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reports poison control hotline calls have received an estimated 2,622 calls for services related to young children ingesting cannabis products.
The Connecticut Poison Control Center received 88 calls in 2020 regarding child exposure to edible marijuana, and 58 calls in the first seven months of this year.
“While Connecticut recently legalized adult-use cannabis,” Tong said, “many of these products fall far outside the range of what will ever be safe or authorized for sale. If you see these lookalike products for sale, please report them to my office and take every measure to keep these away from kids.”
Under Connecticut law, cannabis products may not be sold under a brand name that is identical or similar to the name of an existing non-cannabis product. When retail establishments are licensed to sell cannabis, edible products will be subject to strict safety controls, authorities said.