In light of the recent alarming K2 overdose of three local teens, a coalition of local organizations and concerned citizens, including South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski, Rep. Joe Taylor III and Rev. Terrell Jackson, Layman Chapel Pastor & NAACP, are speaking out about the dangers of K2, also known as synthetic marijuana.

On Friday, Feb. 24, the coatlition spoke about the dangers of K2, urging users, especially
youth, to quit K2 use and seek addiction services. The coalition also implored local policymakers to support local addiction services and ramp up enforcement against those distributing the substance.

This substance is a combination of poisonous chemicals sprayed on a plant material with the intent of mimicking a THC high. The chemicals, though, are far more potent, addictive, and dangerous than real marijuana.

Despite state bans across the nation and a local crackdown on the drug in 2014, the drug is still widely available and heavily marketed toward youth in attractive, cartoonish packaging and nicknames.

The drug is responsible countless emergency room admissions with side-effects including severe agitation, psychosis, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, tremors, and confusion.

In the state of Mississippi alone, synthetic marijuana is responsible for 1,263 ER visits in which 22% of those were admitted to the hospital and 5% to the ICU. The University of Mississippi Medical Center attributes 17 suspicious deaths to K2 use.