June 24th, 2018 by WCBC Radio
Allegany County has had its first known case of severe bleeding after use of synthetic cannabinoids. Similar cases have been reported in Maryland over the past few months.
Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made, mind-altering chemicals that are sprayed onto dried plant material. They are often called Spice, K2, Bliss, Scooby Snax, or fake weed.
Synthetic cannabinoids are found in places like drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores, and online. They can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized in e-cigarettes and other devices. These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they are similar to chemicals found in the marijuana plant.
The health effects from using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable, harmful, and deadly. The potential for harm applies to synthetic cannabinoids purchased legally or illegally.
Some synthetic cannabinoids are contaminated with a substance called brodifacoum, a rat poison that causes severe bleeding. Use of contaminated synthetic cannabinoids can cause bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding of the gums, bleeding out of proportion to the level of injury, coughing up blood, vomiting blood, blood in urine or stool, or excessively heavy menstrual bleeding and back pain.
Anyone who has used synthetic cannabinoids in the past three months—and develops any of the symptoms outlined above—such as severe bleeding, should call 911 or have someone take them to the Emergency Department immediately.
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