Boy, 14, collapses after overdosing on nicotine chewing gum handed out in school

A boy of 14 collapsed after chewing 45 sticks of nicotine gum - equivalent to 180 Marlboro Light cigarettes - in just 25 minutes. Aiden Williams overdosed on the Nicorette gum, designed to help smokers quit the habit, after it was handed out by counsellors at his school. The teenager's mother yesterday hit out at the school, which allows children as young as 12 to be given up to a week’s supply - 105 pieces – without parental consent.

Each stick of Nicorette gum contained 2mg of nicotine - the equivalent of four Marlboro Light cigarettes, which each have 0.5mg. Aiden chewed his way through 45 sticks - a total of 90mg - meaning he had the equivalent of 180 Marlboro Lights in just 25 minutes.

His mother Caroline Williams said : ‘I couldn’t believe that this gum can be given out like this without parents knowing. It is then being passed around the playground. The doctors said that he could have died and he had to be kept in for 24 hours for observation. I know what my son did was stupid, but if anything it proves that these kids can’t be given responsibility for taking medication that could do serious harm.’



Aiden, a pupil at Menzies High School Science College in West Bromwich, West Midlands, said he was given the gum by a classmate who had allegedly been caught smoking. Workers from Sandwell Council’s Drug Education, Counselling and Confidential Advice (Decca) had been into school that morning to do an assessment on the classmate in question. Aiden was rushed to Sandwell General Hospital with stomach pains after he collapsed in the playground at lunchtime. He admitted having eaten 45 pieces of the gum in less than an hour and was kept in overnight for observations and allowed home the following afternoon.

Paul Harris, deputy head at Menzies School, said: ‘We have older teens in school who have issues with smoking and work directly with Decca, which offers support. This is low-strength nicotine gum and there is nothing stopping youngsters from the age of 12 buying it over the counter. Decca does not have to inform pupils’ parents about this.’

DECCA Service manager Margaret Storrie defended the council's policy of handing out Nicorette gum to children without telling parents. She said: 'DECCA is a confidential service engaging with young people and we do offer nicotine replacement gum to help young smokers quit. 'We always encourage young people to speak to their parents and we often organise meetings with family members so young people get the support they need. Aiden overdosing on gum like this is the first time such an incident has happened and we are disappointed to hear about it.'