Chaos erupted at a Los Angeles middle school when multiple students became ill and possibly overdosed after ingesting a suspected banned substance resulting in emergency response, according to a report.
The incident happened at Walter Reed Middle School around 10:30 a.m. Thursday when 17 students, aged 12 to 13, ate a substance that resembled candy. Officials received reports of students experiencing overdose-like symptoms, Fox LA reported.
"There were a lot of people throwing up and yeah...all of sudden there were firetrucks, ambulances and police. I was scared," sixth-grader Ariana Arcos told the outlet. "I didn't know what to do so I just immediately texted my parents."
Emergency personnel evaluated all the students, two of whom were taken to the hospital. The others were treated at the school and released to their parents. After evaluations, authorities reported that the students were experiencing symptoms of lethargy, increased heart rate, and anxiety.
"Today, we became aware that a group of students may have consumed a banned substance," Principal Siegel told the outlet. "We need your help to educate our students about the harms that drugs can cause."
This occurrence follows previous incidents of students falling ill after consuming cannabis-derived edibles in the surrounding areas. The Los Angeles Unified School District and law enforcement are prioritizing a thorough investigation to uncover the origins of the substance.
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