Tompkins County officials have issued a warning regarding the dangers of unlicensed cannabis products after a student at TST BOCES collapsed from what is believed to be a cannabis vape. On May 13, the student took a single inhale and subsequently required hospitalization, where staff administered multiple doses of Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, to revive them.
Lab tests confirmed that the vape contained traces of fentanyl, a potent opioid. The device was purchased from a convenience store that lacked a license to sell cannabis products. The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the source of the vape.
Dryden Central School District Superintendent Joshua Bacigalupi emphasized the need for parental involvement in educating children about the risks associated with unregulated cannabis products. According to a May 20 advisory from Tompkins County Whole Health, using THC-containing products can lead to serious health issues and increases the risk of unintentional poisoning among children and adolescents.
The advisory comes after the troubling incident involving the student, highlighting the growing concern over the safety of cannabis edibles and vapes, especially among young people. The Upstate New York Poison Center reported receiving 124 calls last year related to children ages five and under consuming edible cannabis products. Jeanna Marraffa, the clinical director of the poison center, noted that even minimal exposure can cause severe reactions, including drowsiness, respiratory issues, impaired coordination, and seizures.
Statistics from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that nearly 31% of 12th graders in the U.S. reported using cannabis in the past year, with approximately 6% admitting to daily use within the last month.
Emergency room visits related to cannabis in New York have surged by nearly 57% since the state legalized adult-use recreational cannabis in 2021. To combat the risks of unregulated products, New York residents can use the Buy Legal state dispensary map at buylegal.cannabis.ny.gov to verify that they are purchasing legitimate, state-licensed cannabis products.
A 2022 study by the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association revealed that illegal cannabis products often contain harmful substances, including E. Coli, heavy metals, and unregulated THC levels that conflict with product labeling.
While there are fears about fentanyl contamination in cannabis, other reports indicate that fentanyl is more prevalent in other illicit drugs. The typical consumption methods for cannabis, such as smoking or vaporizing, may reduce the risk of fentanyl exposure, according to some experts.
Tompkins County Whole Health advises residents to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose, which include stupor, pinpoint pupils, cold skin, cyanosis, and respiratory failure. In cases of suspected poisoning, individuals should contact the Upstate New York Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222, and for opioid overdose emergencies, they should call 911 and administer Narcan.
County officials recommend that residents keep Narcan on hand for emergencies. Free Narcan can be requested online at mattersnetwork.org, and it is available at various local organizations, including the Tompkins County Library and Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services.
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