Teen charged with supplying dangerous drugs to students at William Ross SHS
Police have charged a teen over a “brown powder” led to the hospitalisation of seven students.
Townsville
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Police have charged a teenager over an incident at a school that left students hospitalised after ingesting a “brown powder” last month.
The girl has been charged with possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, and seven counts of supplying dangerous drugs following the hospitalisation of seven students after they ingested a “brown powder”.
The teenager is being dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
On February 7, emergency services were called to William Ross State High School at 10:26am after reports that students had ingested a substance.
Seven students displaying various symptoms were treated by paramedics at the school before being transported to the Townsville University hospital after a member of the school had brought the powder in.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Officer Kieran Keyes said six of the impacted students had been discharged from the hospital by 3:57pm on the same day.
One student told the Townsville Bulletin that his classmates were handing out what they described as “mushrooms” and as the day went on students began throwing up and “getting sick and delusional.”
William Ross principal Peter Stumer had addressed parents and students in relation to the incident in the days after it occurred.
“William Ross State High School, like all state schools, is required to provide health and wellbeing education, as part of the Australian curriculum or as part of the school’s pastoral care program,” he said.
“Alcohol and other drugs education is included as a specific focus area in the Prep – Year 10 Australian Curriculum and teaches students about the impact of a range of drugs.
“The school is also part of the Queensland Health P.A.R.T.Y program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) and, through the year have had guest speakers on a variety of health topics.
“Queensland secondary schools are also able to access the Department of Education’s own Alcohol and other drugs education program.
“This program is all about supporting students to understand the impacts of alcohol and other drug use, as well as building their capacity to make responsible, safe and informed decisions.”
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Originally published as Teen charged with supplying dangerous drugs to students at William Ross SHS
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