Warning as more kids falling ill to drug jellies
Children accidentally poisoned
DRUGGED-UP children are being admitted to hospitals in worrying numbers after unwittingly eating cannabislaced sweets, it is warned.
The “edibles” –which most commonly are jellies – are indistinguishable from regular treats and kids are being poisoned after accidentally consuming dangerous quantities of the drug.
Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant Dr Paddy Fitzpatrick warned cannabis poisoning can have long-term
He told RTE: “We have seen a significant increase this year in the amount of children presenting with poisoning from edible cannabis, mainly in the form of cannabis jellies.
“This is a big concern for us as these products are packaged and marketed in a copycat
consequences. branded way, very similar to normal jellies or sweets.”
The warning comes after a nine-year-old child was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after eating “cannabis sweets” found on the ground.
The Drug and Alcohol Monitoring and Information System said the child consumed a “Nerds rope”.
It added: “The effects of THC involves the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. In adults the effects are generally mild and short-lived but ingestion rather than inhalation is associated with longer lasting effects.”
Last month two young boys aged three and four were treated in Temple Street hospital after they swallowed THC jellies.
Dr Fitzpatrick said anyone who is concerned about their children should phone an ambulance immediately.