Synthetic Pot sending thousands of young people to ER: report
Fake pot is on the rise and so are trips to the ER
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 12/05/2012
U.S emergency rooms tended to more than 11,400 cases of drug-related health complications specifically linked to the use of synthetic marijuana. That's according to a new government report. It revealed harsh facts about the growing use of synthetic marijuana. Doctors say it's a serious problem and people need to think about it and how to deal with it.
Since it first came on the scene in the United States in 2008, synthetic marijuana has commonly been sold under the guise of being an "herbal incense". In the last few years, synthetic marijuana has seen a rapid increase in popularity, particularly among American teens who initially could turn to local convenience stores and the Internet for legal access. It's varying ingredients are typically sprayed in liquid form on top of plant materials, such so-called "fake" marijuana is exactly that: an entirely synthesized and unlabeled chemical concoction, rather than a naturally grown plant.
Most people seeking emergency care following synthetic marijuana use were not using any other drug at the time and were ultimately discharged directly from the ER.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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