Violent behavior: Mobile area home to nearly half of all spice-related hospital visits since March 15

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Alabama Department of Public Health continues to receive reports of  increases in emergency calls, and state hospitals have reported five deaths and a surge in emergency room visits by patients presenting with symptoms consistent with exposure to synthetic substances commonly referred to as “Spice.”

Between March 15 and May 4, 2015, at least 932 patients who have ingested or smoked these substances have been seen, 196 patients have been hospitalized, and at least five have died, state health officials said Monday. Those hospitalized ranged in age from their early teens through their sixties.

Almost half of all cases -- some 466  -- have been in Public Health Area 11, which is Mobile County, state records show. Those cases occurred at five hospitals. Two Baldwin County hospitals reported an additional 38 spice-related cases during the same time period.

Health care providers statewide have been asked to consider exposure to synthetic cannabinoids as a possibility for patients presenting with severe illness. Certain hospital emergency rooms have been asked to provide weekly reports of numbers and ages of affected patients to the ADPH Epidemiology Division. These reports are collected weekly.

State public health officials said patients are taking the poisonous substances alone and also in combination with other drugs. State surveillance began on April 15, 2015, and prior to that date Alabama hospitals provided approximate date ranges and numbers of patients seen.

Users not only harm themselves but pose a threat to others. “We have been informed about how violent people under the influence of synthetic cannabinoids can be not only posing a danger to themselves but also to those around them,” said Dr. Mary McIntyre, Assistant State Health Officer, in a written release. “Their behavior may be bizarre and violent. If you encounter someone you suspect is under the influence of spice, call 911 at once.”
Symptoms spice users exhibit include the following:
•Severe agitation, hyperactivity and anxiety
•Racing heartbeat and elevated blood pressure
•Muscle spasms, seizures and tremors
•Intense hallucinations and psychotic episodes
•Coma
Users of synthetic drugs can experience these symptoms or others, with varying intensity. Because there is no control of the types or amount of chemicals contained, users have no way of knowing what they are ingesting. Analyses done in other states have shown not only the presence of synthetic cannabinoids but other chemicals including amphetamines and methamphetamine, cocaine, and Lovamisole (an animal dewormer), creating a toxic combination for users.

According to state health officials, the designer drug substances consist of dried plant material sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids and various mixtures of other unknown chemicals including pesticides and rat poison. The chemical compounds reportedly stimulate the same brain areas affected by marijuana, and they have a high potential for abuse. Users may opt for these drug alternatives because they mistakenly believe the substances are safe. Names for synthetic cannabinoids include Spice, K2, Spice Gold, Sence, Genie, Zohai, Yucatan Fire, Smoke, Black Mamba and Skunk.