Khaberni - A British teenager, 17 years old, suffered acute poisoning after consuming an entire bag of candy mixed with a narcotic substance, designed to look like a famous kind of candy, in a shocking incident that prompted a wave of warnings about the proliferation of food products hiding banned substances in packaging attractive to children.
According to "The Sun" newspaper in Britain, the teenager from Oxfordshire ate one piece of the candy in his room and didn’t feel any immediate effects; he then ate the entire bag, which contained 6 pieces, without realizing that the effects of these substances might be delayed for more than an hour. Shortly after, he experienced severe chest pain and was quickly rushed to the hospital.
His mother, who preferred to remain anonymous, said her son had never consumed candy mixed with drugs before, confirming that he was unaware of its dangers.
On the other hand, the police have expressed awareness of the concerns raised by such candies, given their appeal to young age groups, mentioning that investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the products.
Professor Chris Padney from the University of Bath, who collaborates with the British police to analyze cannabis products, stated that the teenager consumed a massive dose, noting that each piece of candy contained 68 mg of THC, the substance responsible for the psychological effects of cannabis, meaning the teenager consumed a total of 408 mg, a quantity he described as very high and potentially dangerous.
THC candies are banned in the United Kingdom where cannabis is classified as a category "B" narcotic, yet their colorful packaging featuring cartoon images and nondescript scent make them more deceptive, increasing the possibility of their spread among teenagers and children.
Professor Tom Freeman, a psychology professor at the University of Bath, who led the largest study in Britain on cannabis, said current data indicates a continuous rise in the consumption of food and candies mixed with drugs.
He added that consuming excessive doses of THC can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and sometimes dizziness or chest pain, especially in young people or those with weaker constitutions."
