San Diego

Rise in β€˜Spice' Use, Especially in Downtown San Diego: SDFD

More than a dozen people were sickened after consuming a bad batch of synthetic marijuana

After a bad batch of synthetic marijuana, also known as 'spice', sickened more than a dozen people in Downtown San Diego, authorities are reporting a rise in the use of the drug, though at times it can be difficult to keep track of. 

The illnesses happened within a nine block radius of each other at approximately 3:20 p.m. PST Sunday near 6th Avenue and C Street downtown when multiple victims reported smoking 'spice', San Diego Police (SDPD) and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) officials said. 

Eleven people were treated and 13 taken to the hospital, at least two of which were in critical condition. 

Some of those affected were convulsing and foaming at the mouth, said SDFD Capt. Joe Amador. 

"We are seeing a rise in this type of drug, 'Spice', but don't have numbers," he said. 

However, Sunday's incident was "extremely unusual," Amador said, as they transported 13 to the hospital from the same area.

Because the emergency calls can come in multiple ways, from someone acting erratic, an overdose, or even mental health issues, police and fire officials say it's tough to keep track of the number of 'spice' incidents. On average, Amador said fire officials likely deal with around 31 calls a day. 

Oceanside Fire 3736 replied to a SDFD tweet Sunday, calling the use of 'spice' and "EPIDEMIC that is somehow still ignored. Everyday fire crews run on 'spice' calls with no end in sight."

Police are investigating whether Sunday's cases are connected, but did warn people who may have bought the drug, which came in a black package with blue dragons on the side. 

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, it's illegal to sell or possess 'spice' on the federal level. Possession has been banned in the state of California.  

"It's a manufactured substance and depending on who manufactured it, it could be of different qualities, different strengths," SDPD Battalion Chief Mike Finnerty said. "It could be that the current batch that these people are accessing is much stronger than what they are used to or it could have some other unknown chemical in it that's not normally in it."

Heather Corey, a woman familiar with the drug, said she would tell others not to do it. 

"I'm going to say one thing. I grew up on drugs. I was diagnosed as a drug addict and I'm going to tell you straight out, straight up, 'spice' will kill you," Corey said. "It makes you have seizures."

She tried the drug in the past, but said it gave her seizures and she almost died.

The drug, a hallucinogenic, consists of dried plant material sprayed with laboratory-produced cannabinoids and is used as an alternative to smoking marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is popular among teens and young adults and has been linked to altered mental status, increased heart rate and acute kidney injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Right off the bat, I quit," she said.  

Matthew Lang has friends who have used the drug and he said from what he's seen, the effects of the drug tend to be the same.

"The indication of substance abuse, they're gettng withdrawn and secretive; not so much secretive, just...sort of wandering around," he said. 

He said he wouldn't want his three daughters around the drug, adding that users tend to "get a little whacky." 

On Sunday, medics and other crews were treating people at 6th Avenue and C Street, 7th Avenue and Broadway and 14th Street and Imperial. 

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