Boy, 14, overdoses on nicotine gum

[grondramb]

This is amazing - in the U.S. they expel kids for taking tylenol. In the U.K. they hand out nicotine gum in school.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/...9591248131144/

The mother of a 14-year-old British boy who overdosed on nicotine gum blames school officials who allowed it to be handed out without parental consent.

The boy, identified as Aiden Williams of West Bromwich, England, fell ill and collapsed after chewing 105 pieces of Nicorette gum in 25 minutes, ingesting quantities of nicotine equivalent to smoking 180 Marlboro Light cigarettes, The Daily Mail reported Monday.

Aiden told authorities he had been given the gum by another student, who in turn had received it from drug counselors visiting Menzies High School Science College. They had been in the school that morning giving out hundreds of boxes of Nicorette to pupils who smoke.

[dansee]

105 pieces in 25 minutes?

He's not gonna die from nicotine overdose... he's gonna die from "stupid."

[Dirtypacman]

I must admit as much as I would not want it being passed out to my child without consent I put almost full blame on idiot child.

[Jinx]

I agree the kid was an idiot. The school was even more of an idiot handing controlled substances to minors. I'm seeing a lawsuit and the school will loose.

[Mysteryman]

This is in the UK. What is the legal age to purchase nicotine products?

[testify4]

Yeesh. I remember feeling ill for 3 hours after trying chewing tobacco. I bet that was a nice bout of nausea and spins!

[monsterjoe]

I remember when I was 15 or 16...I had a bunch of marlboro miles that I knew I was never going to use. Some kid wanted them, but I made him eat a pack of cigarettes (sans filters) for them.

That dude was so sick...I felt horrible.