Synthetic marijuana emergencies, According to the Health Department in New York City, over 120 persons made trips to the emergency department over the past week as a result of adverse effects or reactions after using synthetic marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana–an herbal product sprayed with powerful and sometimes unknown chemicals–was officially banned and labeled a Schedule 1 drug in late 2010 by the DEA, and is illegally sold at head shops, bodegas, and small grocery stores.
A Schedule 1 classification for a drug means that there is no medically approved use for the substance, placing the user at high risk, not only for misuse, but abuse.
The majority of the adverse reactions, according to the Health Department in New York City, occurred in East Harlem, and happened from April 8th to April 15th.
It is unclear as to whether a new or more potent synthetic cannabinoid has been added to new batches of the banned product that have recently been sold.
Commonly marketed and sold under such names as “K2” or “Spice”, the powerful and unpredictable concoction has great potential for adverse effects, including agitation, anxiety, elevated heart rates and elevated blood pressure. Seizures may also occur, placing persons at risk for aspiration, and the need for mechanical ventilation.
Users may also experience paranoia, leading to hallucinations and aggressive and violent behavior. Emergency department staff must chemically restrain such patients in order to prevent them from harming others as well as themselves when they are brought to the emergency department.
Those who also use ilicit drugs such as cocaine, MDMA or molly, or amphetamines along with synthetic cannabinoids can place themselves at risk for extreme surges of blood pressure leading to dangerous arrhythmias, strokes and heart attacks which can be fatal.
A Schedule 1 classification for a drug means that there is no medically approved use for the substance, placing the user at high risk, not only for misuse, but abuse.
The majority of the adverse reactions, according to the Health Department in New York City, occurred in East Harlem, and happened from April 8th to April 15th.
It is unclear as to whether a new or more potent synthetic cannabinoid has been added to new batches of the banned product that have recently been sold.
Commonly marketed and sold under such names as “K2” or “Spice”, the powerful and unpredictable concoction has great potential for adverse effects, including agitation, anxiety, elevated heart rates and elevated blood pressure. Seizures may also occur, placing persons at risk for aspiration, and the need for mechanical ventilation.
Users may also experience paranoia, leading to hallucinations and aggressive and violent behavior. Emergency department staff must chemically restrain such patients in order to prevent them from harming others as well as themselves when they are brought to the emergency department.
Those who also use ilicit drugs such as cocaine, MDMA or molly, or amphetamines along with synthetic cannabinoids can place themselves at risk for extreme surges of blood pressure leading to dangerous arrhythmias, strokes and heart attacks which can be fatal.
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