A Lorain High School student is recovering after collapsing on campus May 13 in an incident that prompted a temporary lockdown and fueled widespread speculation online. Despite early rumors, school officials confirmed the medical emergency was not caused by fentanyl.
The 10th-grade boy lost consciousness after reportedly ingesting a gummy containing synthetic THC and smoking a vape in a third-floor restroom. Shortly after, the student became dizzy, sat down in a stairwell, and eventually lay down and became unresponsive. Other students and staff quickly notified security and called for medical help.
Lorain High was placed on a Level 2 lockdown around 10:45 a.m. while first responders arrived. LifeCare Ambulance transported the student to Mercy Health — Lorain Hospital, where he regained consciousness the following morning.
The school district, with permission from the student’s family, issued a letter to the community late May 14 confirming that the student was recovering and had not ingested fentanyl.
“She wants our community to know that contrary to claims that her child ingested fentanyl, this is not true,” the letter stated. “The student consumed a gummy containing synthetic THC (a synthetic cannabinoid chemical).”
Synthetic cannabinoids—sometimes sold under names like K2 or Spice—are lab-made substances designed to mimic the effects of marijuana. They are considered highly unpredictable and potentially dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, side effects can include confusion, hallucinations, heart problems, seizures, and kidney failure.
Police reports indicate no vape device was found on the student or recovered from the restroom. The investigation is ongoing and has been turned over to the Lorain Police School Resource Officer and school administrators for follow-up. No criminal charges have been filed at this time.
School officials acknowledged the fear and confusion the incident caused and urged families to talk openly with their children about the dangers of drug use.
“When your children are in our care and an incident occurs, we fully understand the flood of worry that comes from not having all the details,” the district said in its letter. “Thank you for your understanding and for being part of our school community.”
The student remains on the path to recovery.