13 Children Hospitalized After Hallucinogenic Chocolate at New Jersey YMCA Camp

Thirteen campers, ages 10 to 13, at a YMCA summer camp in East Orange, New Jersey, fell ill after eating chocolate edibles suspected of being laced with psychedelic mushrooms containing psilocybin. Parents reported the children appeared “zombie‑like,” with one child taken to a hospital because of a pre‑existing medical condition; the others were evaluated on site and found to be in stable condition.

East Orange police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation. A camper who distributed the suspect candy was identified, but no charges have been filed. Police chief Phyllis L. Bindi said the department is treating the incident as a serious suspected controlled‑substance case. The YMCA confirmed its policy bans food sharing and said staff activated emergency protocols, contacting emergency services, parents and police.

Mother Cynthia Cunningham, whose 12‑year‑old daughter was among those affected, told reporters, “When I arrived, there were 13 children, they looked like zombies.” The incident comes weeks after New Jersey approved a pilot program to study psilocybin for medical use, though recreational use remains illegal.