Nearly 80 people have collapsed in or near a park in the U.S. after suffering overdoses from a batch of synthetic marijuana.
As well as paramedics and police, social workers and mental health professionals were sent to New Haven Green, which is right next to Yale University.
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Authorities described there chaotic scenes as 76 people collapsed on Wednesday and another 17 fell ill yesterday.
However, officials are not sure whether Thursday’s overdoses involved the same batch of ‘K2’ synthetic marijuana.
No deaths were reported, and most of those brought to local hospitals have been discharged, although some were said to be in a critical condition.
Synthetic marijuana, called ‘spice’ and other names, usually is plant material sprayed with chemicals or other substances that is sold in small, colourful packets.
Mass overdose
It has been blamed for other mass overdoses across the United States. In May, more than 50 people in Brooklyn, New York, overdosed on K2, none fatally.
Some of the New Haven victims tested positive for the powerful opioid fentanyl, also blamed for overdoses, but authorities believe this week’s overdoses were caused solely by synthetic marijuana.