Synthetic marijuana has caused a string of overdoses in the Washington, D.C. area this week, according to a report in the Washington Post. In one 24-hour period from Wednesday through Thursday, emergency medical personnel took dozens of people to local hospitals for treatment. City officials say the victims had been using K2 or Spice before being stricken.
On Wednesday night, the fire department and paramedics responded to calls for assistance for 27 patients, 20 of whom were then taken to the hospital. On Thursday, first responders were called to help 22 more people and transported 19 of them for further medical care.
In one case on Thursday morning at about 7 a.m., medics performed CPR on a man outside the Reeves Municipal Center at 14th and U streets NW, according to a fire department spokesperson.
Students Witness Mass Overdose
Not long after, emergency medical personnel responded to the area of North Capitol and O streets NW near Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School at about 8:00 a.m., where 16 people had collapsed. All were transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
At Mundo Verde, Washington, D.C. police school resource officers secured the campus and recess was limited to the school grounds, according to a letter to parents from the school administration. The letter noted that some students and others had witnessed the scene as they were walking to school in the morning.
“Some students walking with families to school this morning walked past at least one of the adults. There were no incidents on or abutting school property,” the letter said. “We know that some of our students may struggle to understand why these events happen and, more importantly, how they can be prevented. Mundo Verde staff will continue