Increase Reported In Synthetic Marijuana Overdoses

The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 1,900 calls related to synthetic pot since the beginning of 2015. That's four times as many compared to last year.

When synthetic pot or ‘K2' first came on the scene several years ago, experts said it mimicked marijuana.

Then lawmakers and law enforcement started playing a cat a mouse game with K2 chemist and molecule by molecule the drug became more deadly.

“We're averaging two to three deaths, overdose deaths, in Oklahoma every year,” Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotic's Mark Woodward said. “We're seeing more and more people ending up in the hospital and potentially overdosing and dying.”

Just last week, investigators found the substance in a Mid-Del Schools bus driver's pocket after he crashed into multiple cars and a train.

At the Oklahoma City Poison Control Center, they're not seeing an increase in calls from ER doctors because at this point, so many people have come in with adverse effects or an overdose, doctors know what they're doing.

“It's become a matter of course with them, dealing with them now,” said Scott Schaeffer with the Oklahoma City Poison Control Center.

Doctors have been treating users, some teens, who were out of their minds on K2 and quickly their bodies shut down.

“People tend to get very aggressive, agitated, the heart rate speeds up. It can actually go out of rhythm. We can see seizures develop with it. People can hallucinate, get very aggressive and violent and can become a danger to themselves, their friends and family,” Schaeffer said.

And experts said the drug is hard for users to put down. “People have an extraordinary compulsion to want to reuse it,” Schaeffer added.

The substance is sold in gas stations or corner stores for anywhere from $17 to $37. Authorities said that can give some kids a false sense of security that if it's sold in those places, it's safer than what's on the streets. And that is not the case.