EMS: 235 people sickened by synthetic drug K2 since May 29 (Austin, TX)

Austin American Statesman ^ | June 15, 2015 | Nicole Chavez

[bgill]

The number of people sickened by synthetic marijuana has reached 235 since May 29, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Since Sunday evening, medics responded to a couple of calls where two people were treated for adverse reactions to the synthetic drug known as K2 or “spice,” EMS officials said.

The synthetic drug is intended to mimic the effects of marijuana. People who have taken K2 have shown symptoms that include violent behavior, paranoia, seizures, low heart rates and low blood pressure.

[bgill]

It's being spiked with bug poison and causes people to become violent. "Some strains of the drug have been made illegal. However, changes to the chemical make-up of the drug have allowed some newer strands to remain legal, police said." http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/15-overdose-on-synthetic-marijuana-in-one-day-offi/nfm42/

[moovova]

[OrangeHoof]

Well, when you host events like South By Southwest and the X Games, who did you expect would be coming to town?

Sorry. No sympathy here.

[bgill]

When Texas secedes, we’re leaving the Keepin’ Austin Weird crowd behind.

[ConservingFreedom]

Some strains of the drug have been made illegal. However, changes to the chemical make-up of the drug have allowed some newer strands to remain legal, police said.

The War on Pot provides a significant part of the incentive to use the newest garage-lab cr@p ... since the better understood pot is legally punished whereas the law will by definition always be one step behind the garage chemists.

[USNBandit]

These aren’t garage labs. This stuff is being mass produced in China. DEA has the responsibility for pushing each drug through the process of being placed on a schedule that makes it illegal. Over the time it takes that process to happen the manufacturers alter the composition. If we want to stop this we need to stop the importation of this class of useless compounds. People sure aren’t using them for incense and potpourri.

[ConservingFreedom]

DEA has the responsibility for pushing each drug through the process of being placed on a schedule that makes it illegal. Over the time it takes that process to happen the manufacturers alter the composition. If we want to stop this we need to stop the importation of this class of useless compounds.

How do we stop the importation - given that, as you say, manufacturers can alter the composition to stay one step ahead of the DEA scheduling process?

[USNBandit]

It would mostly require a law banning importation of substances fitting into certain categories. I don’t how complex that would be. I just worked a case where one dealer had sold the drug to several teens that died. That guy is going away for a while, somebody will replace him immediately.

[Pollster1]

I find it hard to care about stupid people poisoning themselves with contaminated drugs. We have much bigger problems than volunteers proving Darwin’s point.

[ConservingFreedom]

It would mostly require a law banning importation of substances fitting into certain categories. I don’t how complex that would be.

Nobody's found a way yet.

[ConservingFreedom]

I find it hard to care about stupid people poisoning themselves with contaminated drugs.

Yeah, the world's better off without vermin like this - be sure to drop his family a note telling them so.