Because of hallucinogenic mushrooms? 13 children found in a 'zombie' state after eating candy at a summer camp

13 children were taken for medical examinations from a YMCA summer camp in New Jersey after eating candy that allegedly contained psychoactive substances. Emergency teams called to the scene found all 13 children, aged 10 to 13, in stable condition. One child was taken to the hospital as a precaution only due to a previous medical history, and all other children were subsequently released to their homes.

The incident occurred after one of the campers began distributing products that appeared to be chocolate or candy, in complete violation of the camp's rules prohibiting the sharing of food. According to the camp management, the staff responded immediately upon the appearance of the first symptoms, called emergency services, updated the parents, and filed a report with the police.

Concerned parents spoke with news networks in the USA and described nerve-wracking moments. One mother said that her child's eyes were glazed and that he had difficulty walking on the way to the hospital. Another parent criticized the accessibility of the substances to minors, noting that a child of that age cannot purchase such products on their own.

Police Chief Phyllis Bindi, who visited the scene, defined the incident as particularly disturbing due to the harm to the children's safety. A suspect has already been identified in the investigation that was opened, but no indictments have been filed yet. The authorities are working to check how the products—which are suspected to contain hallucinogenic mushrooms—reached the minor's hands, and how they were brought into the camp grounds.

The YMCA organization stated that it is cooperating fully with the police investigation, and at the same time is reviewing supervision and security procedures in youth camps to prevent similar cases in the future.