BPD: More than 50 overdose on synthetic pot

A particularly vile batch of synthetic marijuana is being sold in Beaumont that causes users to experience extreme paranoia, hallucinations, combative and violent behavior, seizures and ultimately puts them in a comatose state that may be fatal.

Beaumont Emergency Medical Services responded to more than 50 overdoses this week related to this batch of synthetic marijuana. Local emergency rooms were inundated with patients who overdosed on the substance, Beaumont Police Sgt. Rob Flores said.

Use of the substance will result in a medical emergency for users and may cost them their life, Flores said.

Synthetic marijuana is an illegal drug classified as a controlled substance, he said. Possession is a misdemeanor and distribution is a felony.

Three people made the news Thursday and Friday after overdosing on the substance Thursday morning, which they smoked through the night.

Officers responded to the 2400 block of Linson Street at 9:35 a.m. to help paramedics with a combative patient, a 47-year-old Beaumont man, Flores said.

A 51-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were unconscious by the time officers arrived.

Officers were able to control the combative 47-year-old, and paramedics began treatment of all three.

Witnesses inside the residence said the trio was awake throughout the night while smoking synthetic marijuana, Flores said.

The 47-year-old patient was in serious condition and had to be admitted to the intensive care unit at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont to treat an overdose, Flores said.

The other patients were transported to emergency rooms at St. Elizabeth and at Baptist the Bapitst Hospital of Southeast Texas' Beaumont campus. Both were listed in stable condition Thursday.

The synthetic marijuana goes by the street name of "Woo" or "Gumbo" and may also be referred to as "Serenity," Flores said.

Beaumont Patrol Division and Narcotics Unit are working to track down the source of this dangerous substance to seek full prosecution of the individuals selling it.

Police urge anyone with information about the people selling the controlled substance to contact Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS.

Your anonymous tip may save a life and may earn you a cash reward of up to $1,000, Flores said.

"We are further urging people to not smoke or ingest this controlled substance as it may result in your death," he added.

Manufacturers of synthetic cannabis claim the product contains natural psycho-active material taken from a variety of plants, but laboratory analyses show that their active ingredients are synthetic (or designer) cannabinoid compounds rather than natural, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

MLibardi@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/ManuellaLibardi