SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA "SPICE" POISONINGS SPIKE

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Across the nation, health officials are warning about a sharp rise in hospitalizations among patients who took “spice”, a synthetic marijuana drug.

 In the past year, poison control centers have received 1,900 calls from people experience adverse reactions after taking spice—quadruple the number of calls in the prior year.  Some of the drugs are laced with PCP, USA Today reports.

Overdose can cause rapid heartbeat, kidney failure, agitation and hallucinations. Treatment can require lengthy hospitalization and treatment with muscle relaxants.

Teens and other users can find the products over-the-counter, sometimes sold in outlets such as gas stations as incense, potpourri or herbal smoking blends.

Although many varieties of synthetic drugs have been banned, manufacturers alter the chemical formulas to stay a step ahead of authorities—sometimes creating severe reactions to these new compounds.

There are over 50 varieties of synthetic marijuana identified thus far, with far more serious adverse reactions than typically occur from use of actual marijuana plants.