MURRYSVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) — A year-long investigation right into a enterprise promoting vape and THC pens to highschool college students ended with the enterprise homeowners and their staff going through fees.
That year-long investigation on this vape store right here in Westmoreland County uncovered startling info. One native ambulance firm mentioned it responded to a minimum of a dozen THC overdoses of youngsters ages 12 to 16 years outdated, many who wanted therapy on the hospital, throughout the final yr.
“I believe it is a substantial situation that is affecting our youngsters as of late,” mentioned Dr. Joseph Aracri, the assistant chair of pediatrics for Allegheny Well being Community.
It is simpler and extra widespread than most mother and father assume: youngsters getting access to unlawful medication.
On this occasion, the Westmoreland County district lawyer mentioned teenagers have been in a position to stroll proper into PA Vapor on Route 22 in Murrysville and get their arms on a litany of unlawful medication together with marijuana, delta-8 and delta-9 THC merchandise and mushroom-infused chocolate bars containing psilocyn.
The 2 homeowners of the vape store, Jeffrey Higgins and Eric Parco, two former staff — Raelynn Miller and Isaiah Priches — and present worker Daniel McKenzie have been all charged.
“They’ve a lot extra entry to info and to those drugs and these medication than every other inhabitants or technology earlier than,” Aracri mentioned.
Aracri says occasions are completely different and children may even get unlawful medication within the mail. Simply on Tuesday, three college students at Pittsburgh Obama Excessive College acquired sick after ingesting an “unknown edible sweet,” and have been taken to the hospital.
“All youngsters experiment in adolescence however you must guarantee that that one experiment will not be going to kill them,” Aracri mentioned.
Aracri says in case your youngster has glazed-over eyes, slurred speech, problem respiratory, sweating, irritability and forgetfulness, these might all be indicators they could have ingested one thing.
“In case you assume they’ve probably overdosed or ingested one thing that they should not have, simply take them instantly to the emergency room or name the Poison Management Heart,” Aracri mentioned.
Aracri says earlier than it even will get to that time, mother and father ought to have a dialog with their youngster concerning the risks of taking an unknown substance.
In the meantime, all 5 individuals charged have been arraigned Tuesday and posted bail. They’re due again in courtroom subsequent month for preliminary hearings.
