Greenville doctors see an increase in children overdosing on Delta 8

Greenville Prisma Health doctors say they’re seeing a concerning rise in pediatric emergency room patients from Delta 8 overdoses.Delta 8 and Delta 9 are derived from hemp and contain THC. Adults use it for sleep or relaxation purposes. “A sense of euphoria and kind of relaxed feeling,” said Prisma Health Upstate Emergency Physician Dr. Mason Jackson. “But then that also can progress, unfortunately into psychological side effects that can resemble psychosis and in some cases schizophrenia.”Jackson is skeptical of the drug, especially after seeing an increase in children admitted to the ER. He says he sees patients at least weekly suffering from a Delta 8 overdose. “Things like respiratory depression or trouble breathing, seizures or low blood pressure,” Jackson said. “A lot of these times requiring ICU level care.”Large amounts can even trigger hallucinations and paranoia, he said.Jackson says these patients range from teens to infants, with smaller children seeing the most serious side effects.Though you have to be 21 years or older in the state of South Carolina to buy Delta 8, Jackson said high schoolers and middle schoolers often access the drug through older friends and coworkers. Young children and babies ingest the drug if it’s left out near them. Because the drug isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, Jackson says it’s incredibly easy to overdose. “It may say to only eat a quarter of a cookie to receive the desired effect, but kids aren’t going to eat a quarter of a cookie,” he said. “They’re going to eat the whole package if it’s in front of them. And so it’s very easy for a young child who doesn’t know any better to ingest an extreme amount of this drug.”The drug comes in several different forms, from vapes to liquids, to gummies, candies, and sweets. Jackson asks parents and family members to be mindful, especially around minors. “If you do choose to partake in it, we do ask that you use the same kind of care that you do with any other chemical. Keep it away from your children. Don’t let them know that it is there,” Jackson said.The doctor added that if mental illness runs in the family, continued use of THC products can trigger illnesses like schizophrenia earlier than normal, sometimes leading to psychotic episodes.

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