Police in one Tennessee city are warning residents of a spike in overdoses involving two potentially deadly synthetic drugs.
The City of Winchester on Monday posted an open letter from Police Chief Dennis Young warning people of two specific drugs: a synthetic marijuana known on the street as “Fruity Pebbles” and a fake Percocet pill that actually contains a much more potent pain medication.
“Over the last two weeks, we have responded to at least 11 overdoses, one death, life threatening injuries, and one serious accident pertaining to (those) two synthetic drugs,” Young said.
Young said that users of the synthetic marijuana, or spice, have reported to police that just one lung full of the drug has caused blackouts. One teen using the drug while driving crashed his car and another ended up in the intensive care unit with organ failure.
The spice, known as “K2,” is also being marketed under the names “Bang Bang” and “Diablo,” Young said. He said the true danger in the drug is the toxic chemicals sprayed onto the spice, which have not been identified.
Manufacturers change the chemical makeup so often that it is difficult to know what is being used from day to day, Young said.
“Our children do not realize the dangers associated with these altered products,” Young said. “These products are marketed to attract the youth under the disguise of smoking undetectable marijuana. (continue reading)