Officials: A dozen students overdosed on marijuana-based products in Orange County over last 2 weeks

Authorities hope the incidents are taken seriously, especially ahead of prom and graduation season when officials say there's normally a spike in teenage substance abuse.

News 12 Staff

Mar 16, 2022, 9:17 PM

Updated 999 days ago

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New information has been released about a disturbing drug trend in schools, as officials now say a dozen students in Orange County overdosed on marijuana-based products in the last two weeks.
Crawford Police Chief Dominic Blasko says three teenage students suffered seizure-like symptoms in front of their frightened classmates last week at Pine Bush High School after overdosing on drugs.
"One was in the hallway, one was in the bathroom, and one was in the classroom," says Crawford Police Chief Dominic Blasko.
Blasko says the students ingested a range of products that are widely available to adults, including marijuana, CBD and synthetic marijuana.
District officials say the substances were ingested before the students arrived to school
"The warning here is very stern. You don't know what's in these substances. Be careful," says Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler.
Hoovler says he's concerned students and adults are minimizing warnings since it involves marijuana or THC.
"When a 13- or 14-year-old is in an emergency room and is nauseous and has a headache and their blood pressure is low – that's an overdose," says Hoovler.
Hoovler says students required medical intervention in all of the cases but are now OK.
Authorities hope the incidents are taken seriously, especially ahead of prom and graduation season when officials say there's normally a spike in teenage substance abuse.
"As parents, educators and law enforcement, we have to try to convince them to minimize those bad decisions and that's what our warning is all about," says Hoovler.
Pine Bush High School is hosting a community forum on teenage substance abuse.