3 Riverhead Middle Schoolers Possibly Ingest THC Candy: PD

RIVERHEAD, NY — Police were called to the Riverhead Middle School last week after three students possibly ingested THC candy called "Medical Nerds," authorities said.

On February 17, police responded to the middle school on Harrison Avenue after the students possibly ingested the. commercially made THC candy on February 16, officials said. None of the students required medical attention, police said.

Detectives determined that Marvin A. Dominguez Torres, a 20-year-old Riverhead resident had given a 14-year-old student that resides in his residence the THC candy, police said. The 14-year-old student then shared the THC candy with two of his friends, police said.

The remaining candy was destroyed and had not been distributed further, police said.

Dominguez Torres was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, processed, and released on a desk appearance ticket, police said.

The incident is isolated and not connected to other previously reported incidents at the Riverhead High School, police said.

Commercially made THC candy is sometimes packaged similar to conventional candy products, police said.

"This is just another example on how important it is to keep prescription drugs, alcohol, nicotine and marijuana away from anyone under the age of 21," police said.

Parents typically lock cabinets that contain chemicals or other harmful substances, or put them on a shelf, to keep them out of reach of small children; the same should be applied to marijuana, alcohol, nicotine and prescription medication, police said.

"All drugs should be kept out of the reach of young children and teens, who are naturally curious. Ideally these drugs should be kept in a safe location, like a lock box or locked cabinet inside a parent’s bedroom," police said.

Marijuana edibles, in particular, can be mistaken for regular candy and can result in marijuana intoxication when taken in large doses, or small doses in a young child, police said.

In Colorado, during the legalization of marijuana, marijuana-related emergency room visits more than tripled from 2012 to 2016 at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Riverhead Police said.

"Marijuana edibles accounted for most of the visits for patients with psychiatric or cardiovascular symptoms," police said.

In addition, adults should store medication safely and dispose of any unwanted, expired, or unused medication at the 24/7 drop box at the Riverhead Police Department.

Anyone, who cannot get to the drop box can request a free Deterra drug deactivation kit from the Riverhead Community Awareness Program; call 631-727-3722 for additional information.

On Friday, police said two recent suspected overdoses at Riverhead High School did not involve fentanyl, illicit narcotics, or alcohol, police said.

According to the Riverhead Police Department, the detective division conducted a thorough investigation into the suspected overdoses that occurred at Riverhead High School on February 4 and February 10. "It has been determined that neither suspected overdose involved fentanyl, illicit narcotics or alcohol," police said.

Both students were revived with Narcan, the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps said.

Police did not indicate what might have triggered the Narcan saves; Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller was not immediately available for comment.

An investigation into a third suspected overdose at Riverhead High School on February 14 involving a student ingesting a THC chocolate candy bar is still ongoing but it has been determined that fentanyl was not a factor in the student's illness, police said.