Emergency Crews Respond to Dozens of Illnesses Caused by Tainted Synthetic Marijuana

For the second time in less than a week, dozens of people in downtown's Skid Row area fell ill Monday after smoking a tainted batch of fake marijuana, prompting another massive emergency response, taxing paramedic crews and leading police to scour through homeless encampments. Eighteen people were evaluated at the scene, where 14 of them were transported to hospitals, fire officials said. The department received the call at 10:21 a.m., and paramedic units lined up at 429 E. Fifth St., not far from where a similar event occurred on Friday. That's when the Los Angeles Fire Department initially reported that 18 people fell ill. The numbers later climbed to at least 50 people, and 38 of them were hospitalized after they smoked the batch of fake marijuana known as Spice, medical officials later said. Dr. Marc Eckstein, medical director for the Fire Department, said emergency personnel are seeing people smoke Spice then have seizures or fall over. He also said LAFD ambulances and firefighters are being diverted to Skid Row because of the drug. On Monday, 12 paramedic ambulances and 75 firefighters were in the area.
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: News Patient Care Source Type: news