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23/04/2015
Number Of People Hospitalised After Smoking Synthetic Cannabanoids
A number of people have been hospitalised after experiencing potentially dangerous side effects after smoking synthetic cannabinoids, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has announced.
The PHA is using its early warning system to raise awareness of the risks of this specific group of new emerging substances and is urging those who feel unwell after taking these drugs to seek medical help urgently.
Owen O'Neill, the PHA's Lead on Drugs and Alcohol, urged people not to take risks with their health: "Synthetic cannabinoids are chemicals that are made to act like the active part of cannabis using a substance called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
"We have received reports of users of synthetic cannabinoids experiencing a range of very unpleasant symptoms including:
• Feeling ill
• Anxiety, panic and disorientation
• Breathing difficulties
• Collapsing and being unconscious
• Extreme agitation
• Hallucinations which have prompted them to try to harm themselves or others."
(CD/MH)
The PHA is using its early warning system to raise awareness of the risks of this specific group of new emerging substances and is urging those who feel unwell after taking these drugs to seek medical help urgently.
Owen O'Neill, the PHA's Lead on Drugs and Alcohol, urged people not to take risks with their health: "Synthetic cannabinoids are chemicals that are made to act like the active part of cannabis using a substance called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
"We have received reports of users of synthetic cannabinoids experiencing a range of very unpleasant symptoms including:
• Feeling ill
• Anxiety, panic and disorientation
• Breathing difficulties
• Collapsing and being unconscious
• Extreme agitation
• Hallucinations which have prompted them to try to harm themselves or others."
(CD/MH)
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