Doctors warn of K2 dangers

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Several recent reports show an increasing number of people overdosing on synthetic marijuana, or K2, including two on back-to-back days.

Tuesday, Vigo County Drug Task Force officers raided three local businesses known for carrying the drug.

"The message should be loud and clear: we're not going to tolerate these synthetic drugs being sold any longer in this county," Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said.

The drug raid resulted in hundreds of thousands of packets of synthetic marijuana found, some targeting young kids, with Scooby-Doo on the front.

However, what many of you don't realize is how dangerous these drugs are.

"This is not what you think it is. It does not have the same effects, it is not the same drug," Psychologist Dr. Thomas Rea said.

Dr. Rea has seen at least one patient every one to two weeks with synthetic drug-related symptoms.

"It can affect the central nervous symptoms.  It can cause seizures, confusion, agitation, partial loss of consciousness; it can affect the metabolic system, the metabolic processes of the body; it can affect gastrointestinal function; it can affect your cardiovascular functioning, have high blood pressure," Dr. Rea said.

Reports also include heart attacks and death.

Dr. Rea said the big attraction is ingredients don't come up in a drug test. That makes it much more dangerous than regular marijuana because you never know what you're getting.

"It's deadly, it's dangerous.  Chemically it's very different, and referring to it as a legalized marijuana just completely misses the picture," he said.

It's an ongoing problem in our community, which doctors and local drug enforcers are asking for retailers, and your help, in making it stop.

Officers believe more businesses are selling the drug, which is a felony in Indiana.

If a business is raided, those retailers are asked to sign an agreement to not sell those items.

If they continue, they will be prosecuted.