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Parent Expresses Concern After Son’s Cannabis Overdose at School
A parent in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is expressing deep concern and frustration following an incident in which her 12-year-old son was taken to the hospital after ingesting cannabis edibles at school. Ashley Ryder reported that the school did not immediately contact emergency services and instead allowed her son to return home on the bus.
“This could have had serious repercussions, and I’m incredibly grateful it didn’t. Nonetheless, I feel they were negligent in their care for my son,” Ryder stated.
The troubling situation unfolded on a Tuesday, when Ryder received a voicemail from Caledonia Junior High School informing her that her son, Quinten, had admitted to consuming THC-infused gummies provided to him by a fellow student. “I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here, to be perfectly honest,” the message concluded, leaving Ryder with more questions than answers.
Upon hearing the voicemail, Ryder attempted to call the school but received no response. When Quinten arrived home, she immediately noticed that something was off. “He appeared dazed and was struggling to speak clearly,” she recalled.
Symptoms of Overdose Recognized
The Atlantic Canada Poison Centre highlights that these symptoms are indicative of a cannabis overdose. Jill Duncan, team lead at the Centre, mentioned, “Common symptoms in children include drowsiness, slurred speech, and muscle weakness. If there is any suspicion that a child has ingested cannabis, it’s crucial to contact the poison centre immediately.”
When asked about the incident, Quinten told his mother that an older student had offered him the gummies, claiming they were sour apple-flavored candies. “He gave me two handfuls. I ate them, and I couldn’t move for a while,” he explained.
Worried about her son’s medical history, which involves prescribed medications, Ryder decided to take him to the hospital after seeing him struggle to maintain his balance. “Not having any information beyond the voicemail made me anxious. We called an Uber and went to the hospital,” she recounted.
At the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Quinten was diagnosed with an overdose. Ryder described the experience as traumatic, noting that multiple healthcare staff had to restrain her son for treatment due to his fear of needles. He was released later that night but returned to the ER the next day due to chest pains.
Seeking Accountability
Ryder communicated with the school about the overdose and expressed her belief that they had failed in their duty of care by not calling for emergency assistance as soon as they recognized the severity of the situation. She has since filed a police report and is contemplating legal action against the school.
“This could have easily turned fatal. I am thankful it did not, but the negligence displayed was alarming,” she emphasized.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education stated that the school was aware of the situation and that it was “closely monitored.” They also indicated a willingness to cooperate with any ongoing police investigation, emphasizing the commitment to student safety and the importance of appropriate consequences for those who endanger others.
The incident raises critical questions about student safety and the responsibilities of educational institutions in monitoring student welfare, especially as concerns about the availability of cannabis edibles among minors continue to grow.
Source
globalnews.ca