Van Nuys Middle School students treated for possible cannabis overdose, 7 rushed to hospital
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ten students from Van Nuys Middle School are treated for suspected cannabis overdose with seven hospitalized after they showed "mild to moderate distress". The students are between 13 and 14 of age.
The incident took place after 11:30 am on Thursday, December 1, according to NBC4. the Public Information Officer of the LA Fire Department, Erick Scott said that there may be a possibility of edible cannabis products involved in the overdose and it is not clear how the students managed to overdose on weed.
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As per the LA Fire Department, they received medical complaints from multiple students, following which 50 firefighters reached the school. The students were wheeled out and put into ambulances. The ten students from the middle school in California's San Fernando Valley were treated by medical professionals, and while seven were rushed to the hospital, three others were released at the scene.
According to the Daily Mail, the fire department confirmed that the case of overdoses is 'not fentanyl-related'. The doctors treating the students at the hospital will confirm the type of substance they have ingested, said the officials. Compared to marijuana, the intake of excessive amounts of cannabis-edible products has the possibility to poison and cause serious injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The LA Unified School District said in a statement, "Today we were made aware of a group of students who suffered a medical incident at Van Nuys Middle School. In an abundance of caution, we requested medical assistance. Medical professionals and the Los Angeles School Police Department have responded'.
The statement further added that "As a point of clarification, Narcan was not administered based on a preliminary evaluation. Los Angeles Unified will proactively contact emergency services in an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of our school communities. We take the health of our students very seriously. Every effort is made to ensure our students learn in a safe environment."
Van Nuys Middle School is situated only 20 minutes away from Helen Bernstein High School where a fentanyl overdose was recently reported and involved the death of a 15-year-old girl. Three other teens were also hospitalized following the overdose symptoms.