State officials are warning residents of the dangers of synthetic marijuana after a tainted batch sent a dozen people to the hospital in Willimantic.
"Synthetic marijuana is a designer drug that does not contain marijuana, but rather contains any of a variety of plants sprayed with laboratory-produced chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana," officials with the state health department explained in a news release Tuesday.
Although synthetic marijuana has been banned in Connecticut since 2012, some users have been unterred.
State officials said they've recently seen an increase in reports of adverse reactions, including anxiety attacks, nervousness, a fast heartbeat, increased blood pressure, tremors, vomiting, hallucinations and seizures.
Police in Willimantic issued a separate warning Tuesday morning after tainted K2, of synthetic marijuana, sent a dozen people to the hospital over a span of 24 hours. Authorities said users displayed psychotic behavior and extremely high body temperatures and blood pressure.
Willimantic police believe the drug may have been laced with another substance.
"Synthetic marijuana is formulated with known and unknown chemicals, some of which are suspected to be extremely hazardous to health," Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Miriam Delphin- Rittmon said in a statement Tuesday. "DMHAS will coordinate with other state agencies and poison control to evaluate additional steps that can be taken to address this issue. DMHAS will continue to educate communities in an effort to curb the use of illegal drugs."
Local
Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen said syntethic marijuana products "are not harmless and can cause severe illness."
If someone you know is having a reaction to synthetic marijuana, call your physician and local poison control center right away at 800-222-1222. Call 911 if someone collapses, stops breathing or has a seizure.
