ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A student was transported to the hospital after being found unresponsive in a bathroom at Albany Middle School on Tuesday, April 14. Parents are now raising concerns about an alleged substance on campus.

Dougherty County School System officials confirmed a medical incident happened Tuesday afternoon and said emergency medical services were called to the school around 2 p.m. The student was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

Four parents told WALB their children reported being given gummies by another student that morning. Parents said it was ‘mistaken as candy and looked like a sour gummy.’

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said her child was the student found unconscious and taken to the hospital. She said she received a call from her daughter’s teacher.

“[Her teacher] called me and let me know to arrive to the school immediately... that my child had been given edible,” the mother said. “At 9:45 in the morning, you noticed she was high, at 2:30 in the afternoon she was laying on the ground.”

Another parent anonymously told WALB that said she received a call from the school nurse that her child had been vomiting. This mother, who works as a lab technician, said she tested her son herself.

“I did a five-panel drug test on him. And it did come back positive for THC,” she said. “It was a high-level THC at that.”

The parents and other family members told WALB they have not heard from school administrators.

“It’s not just cannabis that’s out there. There are other drugs,” the grandmother of the hospitalized student said. “... if it was something like fentanyl, she wouldn’t be here today.”

These claims have not been confirmed by school officials.

The district said an investigation is ongoing, but that they could not verify reports about any substances, including alleged marijuana gummies.

The district said a school resource officer is involved any time EMS is dispatched to a campus.

No one has been taken into custody.

Below is the full statement from the Dougherty County School System:

“On Tuesday, April 14th, school staff at Albany Middle School responded to a medical incident involving a student who was found unresponsive in a campus restroom. School personnel immediately followed district safety protocols and contacted emergency medical services. EMS responded to the school and transported the student for further medical evaluation and care.

As part of standard procedure, whenever EMS is dispatched to a school campus, the school resource officer is involved in the response.

At this time, the district can confirm that a medical incident occurred, emergency responders were called to assist, an investigation is underway, and at this time, no one has been taken into custody. Additionally, we are unable to comment on reports regarding the alleged distribution of any substance, including gummies reportedly containing marijuana, while the matter is being investigated.

Because this situation involves students, the district cannot discuss any individual student information or possible disciplinary actions in accordance with federal student privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. We will continue to cooperate with the appropriate officials as we work to ensure the investigation is thoroughly conducted.”

WALB has reached out to law enforcement and will update this story as more information becomes available.

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