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WILKES-BARRE — City police reported a dramatic increase in the number of people arrested for possessing synthetic marijuana for the first half of 2015, which can be associated with a growing concern of first responders and hospitals treating overdoses caused by the drug commonly known as spice.
Most disheartening, there have been deaths caused by synthetic marijuana since April, when Wilkes-Barre General Hospital begin noticing a “spike” in the emergency room for people under the influence of the manufactured drug, said Chip Dunham, director of emergency services at the Commonwealth Health facility.
Statistics from the state police Uniform Crime Report indicate city police have charged 17 people from January to June with possessing synthetic drugs and arrested three people for selling synthetic substances.
In 2014, city police only arrested two people for the sale of synthetic drugs and no one for possessing the manufactured chemical.
Fire Chief Jay Delaney said the city’s emergency medical services unit have been on an “upswing” with responses to synthetic overdoses, which he noticed has “peaked” in recent months. Delaney cautioned that synthetic overdoses are not just a city problem but a life-threatening issue across the region.
“No matter where you go, emergency services are having issues with overdoses not only with spice but many other drugs,” Delaney said.
Edwardsville incident
Paramedics in Edwardsville on June 9 treated an unresponsive Justis Shea, who had overdosed when smoking synthetic marijuana in a vehicle driven by Frederick Moran, according to court records.
Edwardsville police alleged Moran, 25, of Larksville, admitted he gave Shea a “hit” of the drug. When Shea passed out, Moran removed Shea from his car and left him on the sidewalk in the area of Swallow and Green streets, court records say.
Moran was found with synthetic marijuana. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor possession charge on July 1 and was jailed for 30 days in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
Duhham said it was uncommon for a person to be treated for synthetic marijuana in the emergency room until April.
“It just came out of nowhere,” Dunham said. “About three months ago we began seeing an increase. It almost seems like the beginning and end of the month phenomenon. We know from talking to the folks from using it, they are using it because it is cheap. It’s less expensive than heroin.”
Packages of spice, sold under names such as K2, Xtreme, Hulk, Deadman, Scooby Doo and Black Lion, sell for $1.75 to $5, usually behind counters of convenient stores. While some packages of spice have the inscription, “Not for human consumption,” the substance can be inhaled, snorted, eaten or injected.
Dunham said those under the influence of synthetic marijuana can either be “very mellow or highly agitated.” He said those who experience violent behavior usually end up in intensive care.
“Because each batch changes on how it is made, we have no idea what it is going to do to the body,” Dunham said. “There is no antidote. We have no idea 10 or 15 years down the road what this stuff will do to the human body.”
Anxiety, agitation
According to the 2014 National Drug Threat Assessment, synthetic marijuana users experience severe agitation and anxiety, racing heartbeat and high blood pressure, intense hallucinations and psychotic episodes.
Delaney said paramedics have no idea what to encounter when responding to an overdose of synthetic marijuana. The person in need of help can either be unresponsive or violent, which places the paramedics at risk of being injured.
“Spice and other recreational drugs can cause altered mental status or psychotic behavior,” Delaney said.
Dunham said he is concerned because he sees synthetic marijuana overdoses as “a growing problem.”
He strongly suggested parents and schools educate their children and students about the dangers of synthetic marijuana, since packages contain cartoon characters. Commonwealth Health professionals are available to present educational programs on synthetic marijuana to community organizations, schools and youth groups. For more information, call 570-552-7467.
Other recent incidents that involved synthetic marijuana, according to police reports:
July 5: Jose Luis Sanchez, 34, of Plymouth, was observed visibly intoxicated on North Pennsylvania Avenue. Police said Sanchez claimed he smoked spice. Sanchez was transported to a hospital.
July 4: Brian Yagalla, 46, of Freeland, was found unresponsive laying on a sidewalk at West Market and South Franklin streets. Police alleged he was in possession of synthetic marijuana. Yagalla was transported to a hospital.
June 21: City police cited Dakota J. Whitmire, 23, of Berwick, with public intoxication when she as allegedly found under the influence of synthetic marijuana on South Main Street. Whitmire was treated at a hospital.
June 17: A 3-year-old girl was found wandering in the middle of Woodside Drive, Mineral Springs apartments, Wilkes-Barre. The girl led police to an apartment where Jesus Cruz, 26, was allegedly found passed out on a couch with multiple packets of spice nearby. A 1-year-old toddler was sleeping in the apartment. Cruz was charged with child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance.
June 17: City police charged Michael Jayne, 26, of Nanticoke, with possession of a controlled substance, paraphernalia and public drunkenness when he was allegedly spotted stumbling, disoriented and highly intoxicated in the area of South Franklin and Academy streets. Police allege Jayne was in possession of spice and rolling papers.
June 6: City police charged Christopher Youngster, 32, of Dallas, with possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness on Public Square.
April 27: Larksville police charged Charles Weitz, 19, of Hanover Township, with possessing 15 packages of spice when they investigated a group of people ringing doorbells and running away on East State Street in April.