A Hunter high school has suspended a group of students who ate muffins believed to have contained illicit drugs, which led to two having reactions that required hospitalisation.
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The Newcastle Herald has been contacted by parents concerned they had not heard from the school about the incident on Monday, despite varying versions of events including one report – that police slammed as incorrect – that four female year 10 students had overdosed.
It’s understood four students have each been suspended for 20 days.
A Department of Education spokesman said four students ate muffins “they knew could contain some form of drug” at the school.
“One presented to the sick bay after lunch,” the spokesman said. “A parent and an ambulance were called, and the student was taken by ambulance to hospital. Police were called. Of the three other students, after school one went to hospital, another to a doctor's clinic, and the fourth did not appear to become unwell.”
The school was “awaiting test results to identify anything in the muffins that may have caused the sickness”.
But Lake Macquarie crime manager Detective Inspector Craig Davis said the two students who had had an “adverse reaction” and attended hospital had refused a blood test. He said the muffins may have contained cannabis.
“Our detectives are now looking at where the muffins came from,” he said.
A concerned mother said there were conflicting reports in the absence of official notice from the school, including that the muffins contained other drugs.
She said she was told the students had aching faces and one was frothing at the mouth.
“What if a year seven kid had got a hold of that stuff, what would have happened?
“What if the students did not get help? It could have been a much worse outcome.”
She said she would like to see those responsible for distributing the muffins charged.
The department spokesperson said the school was supporting the students who have been disciplined.