Mississippi hospitals are reporting a surge of synthetic marijuana-related cases this week, including some in the Golden Triangle.
Oktibbeha County reported six cases of overdoses from the synthetic marijuana, commonly known as “spice,” during the past three weeks. Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle in Columbus and North Mississippi Medical Center in West Point did not respond to inquiries as of Friday morning.
Statewide, the number of spice overdoses have reached 85, including five new cases reported from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. The new cases brings the total of patients treated at UMMC for spice overdoses to 45, Dr. Alan Jones said in an UMMC news release. Jones said roughly another 40 cases have been reported outside of the Jackson area, including Meridian, Philadelphia, Monticello and Hazlehurst.
The cases are being tracked by the Mississippi Regional Poison Control Center.
Spice “causes very significant adverse health consequences involving emergency care and hospitalization,” Dr. Robert Galli, a professor on the UMMC Department of Emergency Medicine, said in the new release.
“Spice” refers to a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects.
Health officials warn that spice is created using a wide variety of ingredients produced in a variety of methods.
“You don’t know what compound you are buying,” said Dr. Patrick Kyle, director of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology at UMMC. “You’re taking a huge risk.”
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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