Poison control center calls and ER visits stemming from “K2” have risen dramatically since April 8
Synthetic marijuana, known on the street as “K2”, can be found in local bodegas nationwide and has cause a medical scare in the five boroughs of NYC. The side effects of the new crave, however, are not as predictable as it’s accessibility and has been sending it’s users to the ER daily, according to New York City Health Department reports.
There’s no way of knowing exactly what synthetic marijuana contains.”
-New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett
The average earlier this year was two to three synthetic marijuana-related ER visits per day citywide, but in the last two weeks, these numbers have increased drastically. “K2” has sent 160 people to hospitals in the City of New York in a little over a week and over 120 visits since April 8. The spike that prompted authorities to warn the public that the drug is dangerous and illegal. Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s office said in a statement last week,
Synthetic drugs are anything but harmless, and this rash of severe health emergencies across the state is direct proof.”
In February, over 40 state attorneys general signed a letter asking oil companies to make sure gas station convenience stores don’t sell synthetic drugs. In New York City, the health department is issuing reminders to stores that it’s illegal to sell synthetic marijuana. Since 2012, New York state regulations have banned selling or possessing various chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana. Store owners and its employees can be charged with a crime for selling it, but it hasn’t stopped it from being accessible to users mostly between the ages of 15 to 35.
It’s not clear what all the adverse effects are but the most common symptoms reported in addition to the “zombie effect” include: extreme anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, alienation/disassociation, psychotic episodes and hallucinations, rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, tremors and seizures. Best advise, don’t use synthetic drugs or any for that matter cause sadl there’s no coming back from an overdose.
-Infinite Wiz (@InfiniteWiz)
