Protecting Our Little Ones: Dr. Hilary Fairbrother Raises Alarm on Gummy Ingestion Trend w/ KHOU-11 News
EM Associate Professor & Vice Chair of Education, Hilary Fairbrother, MD, MPH recently shed light on a concerning trend featured on KHOU-11‘s Health Matters segment called “Houston ER doctor recalls treating toddler who overdosed on THC gummies.” The segment highlighted the increasing number of children visiting emergency rooms after consuming gummies containing substances like Melatonin and THC.
Click on the video below for the full story!
Dr. Fairbrother expressed alarm over the trend, emphasizing the danger posed to children who mistake such gummies for candy. She noted that the accessibility of these products in homes contributes to accidental ingestions, often leading to severe outcomes. The use of melatonin among adults has surged in recent years, coinciding with a sharp rise in emergency room visits by infants and young children who accidentally ingest it. Dr. Fairbrother stressed that even a seemingly harmless amount could induce a comatose state in children.
Similarly, poison control centers have observed a significant increase in calls related to children being exposed to THC-infused gummies. Dr. Fairbrother recounted a frightening incident involving a 2-year-old who overdosed on THC, requiring ICU admission. Notably, she highlighted that most incidents occur at the child’s home, emphasizing the importance of parents securely storing such products away from children. She urged parents to prioritize safe storage to prevent these avoidable emergencies.
UT Physicians also covered this story in the following news article “Melatonin gummies: New guidelines issued as pediatric ER visits spike.”
Awesome job! Thanks for keeping us updated on this alarming trend, Dr. Fairbrother!