The suspected poisoning of several high school students after consuming gummies containing a possible drug has raised alarms in Oaxaca and reignited the debate about safety in schools. Law enforcement authorities have opened several lines of investigation to determine how these products entered the school environment and what exact substance the students ingested.
The incidents, which occurred at schools in the metropolitan area and the city of Oaxaca, have brought attention to the sale and distribution of seemingly harmless candies that may contain components derived from cannabis or other illicit substances. While the affected students receive support, parents, teachers, and public agencies are demanding stricter prevention and control measures.
Student poisoning at Technical High School 139
One of the most concerning incidents occurred at Technical Secondary School No. 139 , located on the road to the El Rosario housing development in the greater Oaxaca area. According to reports circulating on social media and digital platforms, three minors began experiencing discomfort after eating gummy candies that apparently contained an unidentified substance.
According to the testimonies gathered, the students showed symptoms of possible poisoning shortly after consuming the candy, prompting concern among some parents. One of them contacted the C5i Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence Center to report the situation and request emergency services intervention at the school.
Following the distress call, police officers and emergency personnel from the municipality of Santa LucÃa del Camino were dispatched to the school. However, upon arrival, they were reportedly denied entry with the explanation that the situation was already under control and that the institution's social work department was handling it.
Unofficial sources indicate that the affected students were not transported by ambulance , but were instead released directly to their families, who took them home and, if necessary, arranged for them to receive medical attention on their own. This internal handling of the case has generated criticism and raised questions about the transparency of the school's actions.
Later, the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office (FGE) reported that investigators were already on site, despite initial difficulties accessing the school. The Attorney General's Office stated that an investigation had been opened to clarify what happened to the three students from Technical Secondary School 139.
Prosecutor's actions and protocols for adolescents
Following the public disclosure of the events at Technical Secondary School 139, the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office (FGE) and the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office (FGEO) announced the activation of investigation protocols with a focus on children and adolescents. These protocols include the involvement of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Juvenile Justice , which is responsible for safeguarding the rights of the minors involved.
According to official statements, the central objective of the investigation is to build a solid theory of the case that will determine how the gummy candies arrived at the school, who might be behind their distribution, and what substance triggered the poisoning. To this end, the first forensic examinations have been carried out on the seized candies and, if necessary, on biological samples from the students.
The Prosecutor's Office has already gathered statements from parents and school staff in order to reconstruct the exact moment the products were distributed and the circumstances under which the students consumed them. One of the key points will be determining whether the gummies were brought in by other students, by individuals unconnected to the school, or purchased in the vicinity of the school.
In its public statements, the institution has emphasized its commitment to providing comprehensive care to victims, with a specialized focus on children and adolescents. This care encompasses both medical and psychological support, given that such experiences can leave lasting scars beyond the initial physical impact.
The Prosecutor's Office itself has insisted that the case will not go unpunished and that, once the expert reports on the ingested substance are obtained, criminal responsibilities will be determined against those involved in the manufacture, distribution or introduction of these gummies into the school environment.
Another case of gummy candy poisoning in the capital of Oaxaca
In parallel to the case at Technical Secondary School 139, the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office opened another investigation into the poisoning of at least three students at Technical Secondary School Number 1 , located in the Centro neighborhood of Oaxaca de Juárez . In this incident, the students also allegedly ingested adulterated gummy candies.
The incident occurred on a Monday when the children began experiencing dizziness, nausea, and disorientation after consuming the candy. Initial reports from the state health department indicate that the students were rushed to medical centers, where they were evaluated and stabilized.
At this school, located in the heart of the city, the situation caused great concern among students and teachers. The local school community remained on alert while experts analyzed the confiscated gummies , aiming to precisely identify the drug or chemical substance present in the products.
As part of the investigation, the Oaxaca Attorney General's Office took statements from parents, administrators, and teachers to clarify when the possible circulation of drug-laced gummies became known and whether there were prior warnings. One of the main concerns is that these edibles could be being distributed more widely inside or outside the school than the cases already detected suggest.
Given this situation, organizations such as the Oaxaca State Human Rights Ombudsman (DDHPO) have requested urgent protection measures for adolescents, demanding preventive and information strategies aimed at the educational community in order to reduce the exposure of minors to these types of products.
Health alerts and recent background
The incidents at technical high schools in Oaxaca occur within a context where, at the national level, health authorities have warned of a surge in products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other substances in presentations very similar to conventional sweets. The Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) and the Ministry of Health have repeatedly issued statements alerting the public about the sale of candies, cookies, and other food products targeted at children, and about the rise in melatonin gummies among children.
In various states, institutions such as the IMSS and ISSSTE have had to treat cases of young people who, after ingesting these products, presented with symptoms of poisoning including neurological damage, altered consciousness, and other serious issues. Medical specialists warn that the consumption of psychoactive substances during adolescence can cause long-term damage to brain development.
The concern is not limited to secondary and high school; even in university environments such as UNAM and IPN, inspections have been reinforced in cooperatives and around campuses, precisely because of the proliferation of synthetic edibles with effects similar to those of marijuana or other drugs.
In Oaxaca, there are also recent incidents outside of the school setting . Approximately a month ago, at least four people reportedly suffered symptoms of poisoning at the Civil Registry offices after consuming gummies that apparently contained drugs. This case also led to the opening of an investigation by the State Prosecutor's Office.
These linked incidents reinforce the perception that adulterated gummies have become a source of risk for the population, especially for minors, who in many cases do not distinguish these products from the traditional sweets they find in stores or share with friends.
Social reaction, school safety and the role of families
The gummy candy poisonings have sparked an immediate reaction from parents and guardians , who are demanding increased security at school entrances, supervision of school cafeterias, and surveillance in surrounding areas. Some parent associations have formally requested that the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) and local authorities implement backpack checks, while insisting that these must be conducted with respect for human rights and without criminalizing students.
For its part, the State Public Security Secretariat has intensified patrols and prevention efforts in areas near educational facilities such as Technical Secondary School Number 1 and other schools in the capital. The goal is to identify potential distributors of these dangerous goods and dismantle the networks that make them available to minors.
Preventive health specialists emphasize that the institutional response needs to be complemented by the active involvement of families . They recommend maintaining open communication with children, clearly explaining the risks of accepting sweets or food of dubious origin, and encouraging them to report immediately if they notice anything unusual after consuming a product.
In this context, the importance of teachers receiving basic training to identify symptoms of possible poisoning , such as sudden dizziness, abrupt changes in behavior, disorientation or nausea, is also highlighted, in order to quickly activate emergency protocols and avoid more serious consequences.
The combined efforts of the Public Prosecutor's Office, health authorities, educational centers, and families aim to prevent these incidents from recurring, although recent cases highlight that gaps still exist in the monitoring and control of what circulates within and around schools.
The string of poisonings from suspected drug-laced gummies in schools in Oaxaca and other public spaces has exposed a problem that goes beyond an isolated incident: the easy circulation of adulterated edibles among minors, the need for clear protocols in educational centers , and the urgency of strengthening both prevention and investigation to protect the health and rights of children and adolescents.
