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'Hammer Head' 'incense' blamed for seizure of youth in Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

UPDATED 3:27 p.m.

Emergency personnel were dispatched Saturday night to an address on Gilbert Street in Le Roy for a report of a youth having a seizure.

Le Roy Ambulance and Le Roy PD arrived on scene and learned that the seizure victim had allegedly smoked "Hammer Head," advertised as "incense" and "not for human consumption."

While on scene, police took into custody Tyler F. Longhini, 20, of 12 Myrtle St., for alleged underage possession of alcohol with intent to consume.

Longhini reportedly agreed to a breath test and allegedly blew a .19 BAC.

Police report that Longhini admitted to consuming Black Velvet whiskey while in the parking lot of McDonald's in the hours prior to police being dispatched to Gilbert Street.

Longhini was issued an appearance ticket and turned over to his grandmother.

Officer Emily Clark said there were three people at the Gilbert Street residence who said they had smoked the "incense," but only one of them suffered a seizure.

She said one of the people on scene said that the "Hammer Head" was purchased at a retail store on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation.

The seizure victim was transported to the hospital by Le Roy Ambulance and the remaining "Hammer Head" product was sent with the patient for medical personnel information.

Clark said this is the first time she's responded to the scene of a medical problem allegedly related to consumption of puportedly synthetic marijuana; however, she has responded to the scene of medical situations involving so called "bath salts." She said she's heard that other members of her department have responded to similar cases.

The victim's name has not been released and we have no information on his or her condition.

Previously: Potentially dangerous synthetic drugs readily available in Genesee County

tom hunt

Let's legalize all mind altering drugs so all these kids can really screw up their brains for the rest of their lives.

I was trying to be sarcasstic and stir the pot; figuratively of course.

Jan 15, 2012, 8:38pm Permalink
lucie griffis

How about as parent we do not close our eyes or turn the other cheek. The problem is it is legal and available. The kids think because it does not show up on a toxi's they are getting away with something. This is a serious problem in this community and other communities around here. Those pills your missing lead into bigger things like this. They think because it is legal it is ok to use. Time to open our eyes as parents. Just because you do not acknowledge it does not mean it is not happening.

Jan 15, 2012, 3:43pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

TP Hunt edited his comment so that my response now looks rather foolish. He originally just said, "legalize it" -- which came across as "legalize synthetic marijuana." These so-called "incense" products are currently legal.

Jan 15, 2012, 4:01pm Permalink
Jennifer Heick-Cejka

Lucie,

There is a Toxi test that does in fact screen for the synthetic versions of marijuana, and these so called "incense' products that these kids are getting and smoking. GCASA has these tests available for their clients at this time.

Jan 15, 2012, 4:27pm Permalink
lucie griffis

Yes but those are not ones that insurance cover and they charge for them. Those are not tests that are ran when they do a regular toxi for the kids on probation. You have to request it and pay ahead of time. It is not covered by insurance and its not ran unless requested. The kids do this because they know it does not show on the toxi''s ran on them.

Jan 15, 2012, 5:34pm Permalink
lucie griffis

Jennifer-
I have dealt with GCASA on this level because of one of my boys and know it is available. I have dealt with probation, GCASA, Genesee Justice and other agency's. I am well aware of how it works. These kids go to those groups they learn how to pass those tests, they know what shows and what does not. They are very smart when it comes to manipulating and deceiving. I would have to say I never did many of the drugs that they all experiment with. We have a significant problem with drug use in our youth in this and surrounding communities. It is not only those legal items that are readily available. It is a shame.

Jan 15, 2012, 5:40pm Permalink
Irene Will

I cringe when I see these stories - - because I think that SOME kids, when they read these articles about these hitherto unknown (to them) "products", think " Man, I gotta TRY that " - not, as you would hope - " Man I'm never going near THAT stuff " It's free advertisement for these "products", in other words. So now they not only learn about something new to experiment with, they find out where it's SOLD. It's very sad, but I think these articles do not DETER using these products, they spread the use of them.

Jan 15, 2012, 7:27pm Permalink
lucie griffis

I disagree to a certain point. First thing I did was talk to my kids after seeing this. To my amazement they were already aware that this was one of the more dangerous ones on the market and had friends who already experienced this too. I don't think that the article will make this more used. They actually started naming other items of the sort to me. The use of these products and others is already very widespread and it is prevalent in not just the known party kids but even the good ones or ones we think are good. Some parents would be surprised.

Jan 15, 2012, 8:09pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Parents would be surprised.... We lose sight of that when we grow older. I'm 43 right now but I can tell you from the time I was 10 til I was 20 theres alot of things that my parents didnt know about. Talking with older friends I have now, alot of them say the same thing. I truly believe that kids today are no different than they have every been, they just have more to deal with than we did too many opportunities to get into trouble and too many tools and such to keep it out of their parents view.

Today it all boils down to how you raise your kids, I truly believe that the hands off be your kids best friend method has given us todays youthful attitude. Now we reap what we have sown so to speak.

(Debate this all you want but if you think back to your teen years.....how much did your parents know? Like Lucie pointed out even the good ones are in the same environment exposed to the same things but they make the choices, sometimes due to a strong moral compass whether born with it or learned from good parents. Truth is truth whether we choose to accept it or not)

Jan 16, 2012, 7:14am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Sidebar.....Hey Howard still thinking on removing some editing priveledges? My suggestion is 10 or 15 min for proofing the comment then if they want to edit anything, direct them to special requesting it from you. I think thats a fair and equitable way to remove some of these manipulations of the forum, while still giving fair editorial control to the fellow users of the forum.

Jan 16, 2012, 7:19am Permalink
Jennifer Heick-Cejka

Lucie,

While you make valid points as to the availability of these tox screen's and the ability to manipulate them on any level, this holds true of any drug offender in any rehabilitation system that is not ready to be rehabilitated. I was merely offering the availability of these tox screens as it had previously been stated that there is no tox screen available for these synthetics when in fact there are, and as the problem grows, the availability will surely grow and become more readily available. The problem is not easily solvable, the growing problem of drugs never will be. I was merely offering some information.

Jan 17, 2012, 10:53pm Permalink

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