Reports of adverse health effects related to synthetic cannabinoid use in New York State.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We assessed synthetic cannabinoid (SC) outbreaks from 2011-2012 and 2015. METHODS: The National Poison Data System was utilized to collect reports of SC adverse effects in New York State from 2011-2012 and 2015 (N = 713). RESULTS: Cases from 2015 were more likely to be admitted to intensive care units and had different symptoms than those in 2011-2012. We identified two new SC structural classes from 2015 samples. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: The 2015 outbreak was associated with more severe SC-related illnesses than in 2011-2012. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: New SC compounds may pose a different or more severe risk than those previously identified. (Am J Addict 2017;26772-775).