New York state authorities have issued a health alert in the wake of a dramatic increase in hospital visits for synthetic marijuana emergencies.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that, in a span of nine days, 160 patients have been transferred to hospitals across the state due to adverse reactions to the synthetic cannabinoid, known as “Spice” or “K2.”
“Spice” and other similar synthetic medications are often marketed as legal plant material covered in chemicals that are supposed to mimic the effects of marijuana, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
“Since the exact compounds contained in synthetic cannabinoid products change so frequently, it is often impossible for users to know exactly what they are introducing into their bodies,” said Dr. Howard Zucker, Commissioner of Health New York State Acting.
Symptoms after use have a wide range of severity, from confusion, drowsiness, and headaches to increased heart rate, seizures, and loss of consciousness, the New York State Department of Health reported.
Synthetic marijuana is very popular among teenagers, as it is marketed as incense or natural products to “mask its true purpose,” the Health Department statement said.
“They trick young people into believing that these substances are safe because they are sold without a prescription or are in colored containers, but they are not made for human consumption,” said Arlene González Sánchez, Commissioner of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. “They are dangerous and can have significant long-term effects on the brain.”
The recent increase is not something isolated in New York; Other states across the country have seen similar trends.
The Alabama Department of Public Health released a statement last week acknowledging an increase in the use of synthetic marijuana and said that there were 98 cases of overdoses last month that appear to be related to “Spice.”
In Mobile County alone, seven cases have been observed so far this year, more than throughout the past year, according to the statement.
Mississippi health officials are also concerned that synthetic marijuana is on the rise.
Ninety-seven cases, over an eight-day span in April, were reported to the Mississippi Poison Control Center, according to a Health Department news release.