According to this article, the Alabama Department of Health has seen 932 emergency room cases in the last 45 days of people with synthetic use reactions. 196 have been hospitalized and 5 have died from overuse or reactions. Most people think they are smoking marijuana and do not realize it is synthetic and has been altered. It causes the following symptoms/reaction: severe agitation and anxiety, racing heart beat, hallucinations and psychotic episodes. Experts say it is nothing like the effects of marijuana yet people assume the drugs are the same thing. One former user says drug addicts are always looking for the next high and often have no idea what they are smoking.
As we approach the summer, please know where your children are and what they are doing. Talk to them about the dangers of taking a drink or a drug from someone. It could easily be laced with something dangerous that could result in death.