Synthetic marijuana sends more than 2 dozen to UMMC

Medical experts at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are stressing the dangers of using "spice," a synthetic but very potent form of marijuana, after more than two dozen people were treated for adverse effects of the drug over the Easter weekend.

About 26 people since Thursday night have been seen at UMMC's Emergency Department for symptoms of spice overdose, and the drug is suspected of causing the death of another person, said Dr. Robert Galli, a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and executive director of TelEmergency.

A total 28 individuals sickened by the drug have been tracked by the Mississippi Regional Poison Control Center since Thursday, state Department of Health officials say. The drug "causes very significant adverse health consequences involving emergency care and hospitalization," Galli said.

Those seen at UMMC's Emergency Department displayed agitation, sweating, hyperactivity, hallucinations, acute psychosis, and in some situations, were in a comatose state. Some of them had prolonged symptoms and complications of rhabdomyolysis, or rapid breakdown of muscle tissue, requiring hospitalization. All are residents of the Jackson metropolitan area.

"Spice" is a catch-all name for a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences that are sometimes similar to what a person feels after smoking marijuana. Often marketed as "safe" alternatives to marijuana, spice is generally ingested by smoking and sold under a variety of names, including K-2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Scooby Snax, Anthrax, Mojo, Skunk and Moon Rocks.

They contain dried, shredded plant materials and a mix of chemical additives that produce psychoactive, or mind-altering, effects. Labels on their packaging tout "natural" ingredients and say they are "not for human consumption," but in fact, their active ingredients are synthetic, or "designer," cannabinoid compounds.

Although spice users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana, including elevated mood and perception and relaxation, the effects are often much stronger than marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is often more toxic to the brain than marijuana because its potency can be 100 times greater or more than THC, which is the active ingredient in pot. "Some of the patients we've seen over the weekend have said, 'This is not like anything else we've used before,' " Galli said.

The Department of Health asks any health-care providers or emergency personnel to report suspected cases to the Mississippi Regional Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.