Students

Wesleyan University News Update: Of 12 Hospitalized, 10 Were Students and 2 Were Visitors

By

Wesleyan University provided an update on the students that were hospitalized for an apparent overdose on the party drug most well known as MDMA.

According to the Wesleyan Argus, 10 students were hospitalized, as were two others who were visiting the Middletown, Conn. school. University President Michael Roth and Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Whaley continued updating the campus community in a series of emails Monday.

The students were hospitalized Sunday and the Hartford Courant previously reported two people were in critical condition and two more were in serious condition. Middletown Police Lt. Heather Desmond told the newspaper Monday one student was hospitalized for alcohol consumption, the rest for MDMA, which is also referred to as Molly and ecstasy.

"The effects are extremely dangerous, and as of now, four students are in Middlesex Hospital in Middletown (we expect them to be released today) and four others are being cared for at Hartford Hospital," Roth said in an email, the Argus reported. "I ask all students: Please, please stay away from illegal substances the use of which can put you in extreme danger. One mistake can change your life forever.

Wesleyan became aware of the situation early Sunday morning, the Associated Press reported. Police began an investigation immediately to determine the source of the drugs, which they believe may have been a "bad batch."

"If you are aware of people distributing these substances, please let someone know before more people are hurt," Roth said in an email.

Dr. Mark Neavyn, chief of toxicology at Hartford Hospital, told the AP Molly is typically refined ecstasy that varies in purity and potency.

"When we see these people in the emergency department and they claim to have taken Molly, we don't pay attention to that word anymore," he said. "It's so commonly not MDMA, we just start from square one and say it's some sort of drug abuse."

© 2024 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics