Known as K2 or spice, police say 911 calls related to the drug are on the rise
ALBANY — Calls for overdoses related to drugs like K2 or Spice have risen over the last several weeks, city police said.
Police said Tuesday a rise in 911 calls for severe reactions is believed to be linked to drugs made from synthetic cannabis.
K2 is not actually cannabis, but a chemical sprayed on plant matter or paper that produces a hallucinogenic effect, according to the state Department of Health. Officials warn it can cause seizures, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, vomiting, hallucinations or psychosis and violent behavior or suicidal tendencies.
Statistics shared by Albany police show 49 overdoses have occurred in the city since June 1, 14 of them fatal. While it was not clear what drug was taken more than half the time, more than a third of incidents in which a drug was named (8 out of 22) were suspected to involve synthetic cannabis. Albany police spokeswoman Officer Megan Craft said there is concern the drug is being mixed with other illicit substances.
The state DOH’s community drug checking program has also reported a rise in adverse reactions to the drug — such as anxiety and paranoia — in both the Capital Region and Central New York, a spokesperson said.
The sale of the drug in stores, advertised as potpourri or incense, has been banned since 2012, though producers have skirted regulations by using new substances not specifically prohibited. In 2016, 33 people in a Brooklyn neighborhood were intoxicated by a particularly potent synthetic cannabis, and 18 were hospitalized, one study found.
In 2023, the state warned samples from synthetic cannabis sold in the Mohawk Valley were found to contain synthetic psychoactive drugs, including synthetic opioids. The state noted this was rare, but a potentially deadly additive.
Statistics show that, while August and September of this year saw the highest number of overdoses and most fatal overdoses in Albany, respectively, November picked up again with 9 incidents. Six incidents have already been reported in December.
“Although often referred to as synthetic cannabis, it is not cannabis,” police advised. “State-licensed cannabis dispensaries provide safe and regulated products, which reduces the risks associated with illegal synthetic substances.”
City police advise anyone seeing someone overdosing to call 911 and administer naloxone, also known as Narcan. Addiction resources shared by police include:
- Project Safe Point at 866-930-4999
- Addictions Care Center of Albany at 518-465-5829
- Second Chance Opportunities at 518-489-1929
- Mobile Outreach Treatment and Overdose Response at 518-447-4555
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