Investigators found a high school student who was found to have been given a Kratom packet from a school track coach who was “unresponsive” on campus.
The teenager suffered a “medical emergency” after consuming stimulants, but survived, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Regarding the coach, he was arrested, officials said.
The incident occurred on May 9th at Hernando High School in Brooksville.
“The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputy responded to the classroom in connection with a 17-year-old student who appears to be suffering from a medical emergency,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
“The student responded with a rapid pulse, shallow breath, and it got hot on the touch. The adjutant then rubbed his sternum, and the student replied, saying it was hot.
He later admitted to taking “herbal supplements” given to him by his school teacher, athletics coach Terry Kennedy, officials said.
“Students recommended they had seen teachers use supplements as energy boosters before and asked Kennedy if they had some. Kennedy provided students with two packets of Kratom-based supplements,” officials said.
He consumed both packets between classes and was experiencing a series of surprising symptoms immediately, officials said. The teen was taken to hospital “for further treatment and observation,” and details of his condition were not released.
Kratom’s “stimulant-like effect” has made it a popular energy booster, mood lifter and painkiller, but experts consider it “not safe and not effective” according to Mayo Clinic.
Sixteen states regulate Kratom, including Florida, and are opposed to the law to supply people under the age of 21.
“During the interrogation, Kennedy, who coaches track and field and former football coach, advised that he provided supplements to students at student request. Kennedy said he knows Kratom is included in the supplement,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office said a warrant for Kennedy’s arrest was issued on Friday on a misdemeanor charge of “providing kratom products to the boy.” He turned himself the next day, and Bond was set at $500.
