At least 13 children have fallen ill after eating chocolate laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms at a YMCA camp in East Orange, New Jersey. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the camp on North Arlington Avenue.
A camp counselor discovered a camper passing out what appeared to be sweets to other campers. One child later began complaining of not feeling well, with 12 more children subsequently experiencing similar symptoms. The affected children were aged between 10 and 13. One child with a preexisting medical condition was taken to hospital.
Children found in 'zombie' state
A mother of a 12-year-old at the camp arrived to pick up her child and found the children 'looked like zombies.' Cynthia Cunningham told abc7: 'It was sad, really sad. This shouldn’t happen.' Another parent told News 12 that the children were about to play in the water when they ate the edibles. 'It’s so heartbreaking to hear your kid has ingested something because I don’t do any drugs, his father doesn’t do any drugs,' they added.
The camp stated that once counselors realized the children were falling ill, 'we immediately enacted our emergency protocols, contacting emergency services, parents and the police.'
What are magic mushrooms?
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also called magic mushrooms or 'shrooms,' contain the psychedelic compound psilocybin. The mind-altering chemical can cause euphoria and laughter but also paranoia and vomiting. They are classified as Schedule 1 Drugs, making them illegal, and possessing more than 5g can lead to five years in prison. However, New Jersey approved a bill in January for a pilot program to study the natural hallucinogen as a treatment for depression and anxiety.
The camper suspected of handing out the drug-laced food has been identified, but no charges have been made. Police Chief Phyllis Bindi said: 'This incident is deeply concerning, particularly because it involves the safety and well-being of children. Our detectives are conducting a thorough investigation to determine exactly what occurred, how these suspected edibles came into the possession of a juvenile, and whether any criminal offences were committed. We are working closely with our partners to ensure the safety of our youth and to hold anyone responsible accountable under the law.'
