A Riverhead High School student was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center this morning for having difficulty breathing after reportedly consuming “a chocolate edible” inside the school.
A spokesperson for Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance said the ambulance was called just before 11 a.m.
The student told authorities they had consumed “a chocolate edible,” a term commonly used to refer to an edible form of marijuana.
No additional information was immediately available. The student today never lost consciousness and Narcan was not administered, the spokesperson said.
Two students in the past two weeks had to be revived with Narcan, the opioid overdose rescue drug, after reportedly vaping in the high school. One student admitted to vaping, while the other denied it. Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said both students were believed to be vaping and the incidents are under investigation.
Riverhead School Superintendent Augustine Tornatore confirmed last week that both of those incidents involved vaping.
Hegermiller said this afternoon an investigation is ongoing.
Some Riverhead school district parents have expressed outrage about the district’s handling of last week’s incidents. The high school principal sent an email to parents after the second incident, warning them of a warning them of a “potentially harmful, ingestible substance” circulating in the community and accessible to students. He asked parents to talk to their children about “not accepting unknown items from other individuals.” “The district is continuing to partner with law enforcement to work more closely with our students to prevent students from bringing drugs on campus. All districts do face challenges when students decide to make poor choices at home and then come to school as well. Bags are currently not checked, but we are looking into additional strategies and procedures for prevention purposes. We are also looking to hold an assembly for students regarding drug and alcohol usage, reminding students that school counselors, psychologists and social workers are available for assistance and we are seeking to offer additional Narcan training to staff and the community. One of the best strategies is for districts to discuss this with students and for parents/guardians to also discuss this at home,” Tornatore said in an email.
Editor’s: note: This story was amended to reflect a comment from School Superintendent Augustine Tornatore emailed after original publication.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
