Drug-laced edibles sickened high school students at football game, police say

CHICKASAW, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - Three students rushed to the hospital during a high school football game Friday night were suffering from drug-laced edibles, according to the city’s top police officer.

The incident caused alarm during Friday night’s game between Chickasaw High School and Washington County High School. Acting Police Chief Tommy McDuffie said that the Chickasaw High School students are OK now.

“They (went) to the hospital, but they are at home now,” he said. “So they are fine.”

McDuffie said the students had a reaction to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. He said police are investigating where the students got the drug-laced gummies.

McDuffie said it is important for students and parents to be vigilant and recognize the risks of drugs.

“If you’re at school and someone approaches you, you know, just say ‘no’ to anything that is handed to you,” he said. “You know, don’t buy it, don’t consume it, don’t take it. You know, same for the parents. If they come home with something that they didn’t buy, say a friend gave to them, you know, look at it. Investigate it. Look into it and see what it is and toss it away.”

McDuffie urged parents to call police if they find a substance they have questions about. He said drugs can be much more dangerous than they appear.

“And the biggest one out right now is fentanyl,” he said. “And just a dot of that stuff can kill you.”