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K2 has no accepted medical use in the U.S., according to the DEA, which lists 26 synthetic marijuana compounds as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act. The drug is typically manufactured in Asia and smuggled into the country or legally imported under misbranded labels.īefore it was criminalized, K2 was commonly sold at bodegas, head shops, gas stations and online. The effects of K2 were first reported in the United States in 2009, according to the DEA. bad guy, trippy, green giant, scooby snax, cotton ball, Bombay blue, genie, AK-47, red giant and legal weed. K2 is most commonly called spice or synthetic marijuana in New York City but there are a host of other slang terms for the drug, including, but not limited to: bliss, black mamba, smacked, mr. Heart attacks and acute kidney injuries have also been connected to regular abuse of the drug, per the DEA.ĪAPCC issued an alert earlier in May, as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and several of the country’s health departments are investigating K2 cases involving severe, unexplained bleeding or bruising. Poison centers nationwide have seen a steady increase in K2-related calls in recent years, from 2,668 in 2013 to 7,797 in 2015, according to the AAPCC. Synthetic marijuana can be addictive, and regular users have shown withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop.
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The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), which represents the country’s 55 poison centers, suggests calling 911 immediately if someone has stopped breathing, collapses or has a seizure.
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#GAS STATIONS THAT SELL K2 NEAR ME FREE#
All calls are free and confidential.Ĭertified medical experts can help callers determine whether someone can be treated at home or if they need to go to a hospital. The city health department urges anyone experiencing or witnessing a K2 overdose to call the NYC Poison Control Center, which is open 24/7 for treatment and advice, at 21 or 80. What to do if someone is having a negative reaction to K2 The city health department has recorded two overdose deaths caused by K2. Since the chemical composition of the drug varies per batch, the results of its use can be unpredictable.Īccording to the Drug Enforcement Administration, K2 can have psychological as well as physical effects on users, including elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, vomiting, convulsions or seizures, confusion, paranoia, violent behavior, anxiety and hallucinations. It is typically smoked, with users inhaling the substance via a pipe or rolling paper. K2 is a man-made chemical similar in makeup to THC - the natural psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana - that is sprayed on or soaked into plant material and often packaged in a foil packet.
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