At least 13 children have fallen ill after eating chocolate laced with ‘hallucinogenic mushrooms’.
The youngsters ate the ‘edibles’ at a YMCA camp on North Arlington Avenue in East Orange, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.
A camp counsellor discovered a camper passing out what appeared to be sweets to other campers.
One of the children later began to complain of not feeling well, with 12 more children later experiencing similar symptoms
The sickened children were aged between 10 and 13. One child with a preexisting medical condition was taken to hospital.
class="wp-block-heading">Children found in ‘zombie’ state
A mum of a 12-year-old at the camp arrived to take her child to find the children ‘looked like zombies’.
Cynthia Cunningham told abc7: ‘It was sad, really sad. This shouldn’t happen.’
Another parent told News 12 that the children were about to play in the water when they ate the edibles.
‘It’s so heartbreaking to hear your kid has ingested something because I don’t do any drugs, his father doesn’t do any drugs,’ they added.
The camp said that once counsellors realised the children were falling ill, ‘we immediately enacted our emergency protocols, contacting emergency services, parents and the police’.
What are magic mushrooms?
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also called magic mushrooms or ‘shrooms’, contain the psychedelic compound psilocybin.
Taking the mind-altering chemical can leave people giggly and euphoric, though also induce feelings of paranoia and symptoms like vomiting.
They are classed as Schedule 1 Drugs, meaning they are illegal and possessing more than 5g can lead to five years in prison.
However, New Jersey approved a bill in January for a pilot program to see if the naturally occurring hallucinogen is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety.
The camper suspected of handing out the drug-laced food has been identified – no charges have been made.
Police Chief Phyllis Bindi said: ‘This incident is deeply concerning, particularly because it involves the safety and well-being of children.
‘Our detectives are conducting a thorough investigation to determine exactly what occurred, how these suspected edibles came into the possession of a juvenile, and whether any criminal offenses were committed.
‘We are working closely with our partners to ensure the safety of our youth and to hold anyone responsible accountable under the law.’
The East Orange YMCA ‘has something for everyone, from toddlers to adults’, according to its website.
The East Orange YMCA and the East Orange Police Department have been approached for comment.
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