Lorain Co. Children Services: More children ingesting cannabis edibles

After receiving two dozen reports so far this year of children accidentally eating their parents' legal cannabis edibles, Lorain County Children Services is trying to educate the public about keeping legal recreational drugs out of the hands and mouths of children. With recreational cannabis legal in Ohio since August 2024, the past year has seen an increase in childhood exposure to cannabis edibles statewide, "and that's exactly what we're seeing" said Kristen Fox Berki, executive director of Lorain County Children Services. After eating them, she said children are "showing up at emergency departments when parents get concerned about how they're acting" under the influence of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. Children who eat cannabis gummies thinking they're candy can show behavioral or physical signs and "it's not always clear right away what happened," Fox Berki said. As of Tuesday, Children Services had gotten involved in 24 incidents this year alone in which children ingested an adult's cannabis edibles. All the cases that were referred to Children Services were referred by doctors, police officers, teachers, school staff, court staff, social workers and mental health workers or clergy — "mandatory reporters" required by law to report suspected child endangerment or abuse. Andrea Hall, a continuous quality improvement manager at Children Services who tracks data for the child welfare agency, said reports of accidental cannabis gummy ingestion among children is "certainly an increase over what was seen in 2024." Edibles can look, feel and taste like regular candy, according to Children Services, which said a single gummy can send a child to the hospital. "And they (children) are not just eating one, they're having two, three gummies" Hall said. Some have ended up hospitalized for up to two days, she said. While overdosing cannabis might not seem like a problem for an adult, children and teen bodies are different and what an adult can handle is different from a child, Children Services and medical experts said. According to Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, children who accidentally ingest cannabis products run the risk of breathing problems, heart problems, seizures, brain damage and possibly death. Symptoms of cannabis intoxication in children can include excessive drowsiness, difficulty walking, vomiting, unusual behavior, difficulty breathing and coordination problems. Recommendations to keep cannabis edibles out of the hands of children include: - investing in a quality lockbox designed to hold medication - putting edibles in high, locked cabinets, inside safes or in portable locked bags - keeping edibles in their original packaging to prevent mistakes, or at least in a place where children can't find them - buy only from licensed dispensaries To date no children have died from cannabis intoxication in Lorain County, said Katie Bevan, a program manager for Lorain County Public Health. Her advice was the same as what was given by Children Services: A child who has accidentally ingested any potentially dangerous substance should be taken to a hospital emergency department. Dial 911 in an emergency, or in case of suspected poisoning you can call the national poison control hotline at (800) 222-1222 to connect to your nearest poison control center. Children Services recommends if you take a child to the hospital, bring the original product packaging with you. Much of that information can be found on flyers and pamphlets Fox Berki said her agency created to remind parents and guardians how to keep legal cannabis products out of the hands of children. That information is being handed out at festivals and by caseworkers in the community, she said. While recreational marijuana is legal, "there are still some dangers and concerns people have to be aware of having that substance in their home," Fox Berki said. "The biggest thing is, people need to be aware of what they're bringing into the home, and the dangers it may pose for their children," she said. "It's legal and maybe doesn't seem as dangerous, but it really is for small children. I don't think we can say that enough." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.