* March 30th…
The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting a large concentration of severe bleeding caused by synthetic cannabinoid products in Central Illinois.
Of 32 cases reported statewide, 10 cases were in Tazewell County, six in Peoria County and one in McLean County. The rest of the cases stem from the Chicago area.
IDPH updated its numbers today. There are now 56 cases statewide with two deaths. Of those, 26 cases were in the Peoria area, with 14 in Peoria County and 12 in Tazewell County, which is right next door. By comparison, there were 17 cases in all of Chicago.
* From IDPH…
All cases have required hospitalization for symptoms such as coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, and/or bleeding gums. Nine of these cases have tested positive for brodifacoum, a lethal anticoagulant often used as a rodenticide, or rat poison.
“We continue to see the number of cases rise,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “IDPH is continuing to work with local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other partners, to try to identify common products. Without more information, IDPH does not know how much contaminated product is circulating or where. We strongly urge everyone not to use synthetic cannabinoids.”
Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made, mind-altering chemicals that are sprayed on to dried plant material. They can be smoked or sold as liquids to be vaporized in e-cigarettes and other devices. These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they are similar to chemicals found in the marijuana plant. The health effects from using synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable, harmful, and deadly.
IDPH continues to investigate to try to identify any common products and determine where they were obtained. Synthetic cannabinoids are found across Illinois and the U.S. in convenience stores, gas stations, drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores, and online.
- CentrIL - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
Legalize, regulate, tax. Simple solution here.
- Leigh John-Ella - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:19 pm:
Maybe the chief of staff could go work campaigns? The place seems to solve all its problems when he’s away.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
Glad to know IDPH is on it, unlike when Legionella kills our veterans.
- Thoughts Matter - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 3:51 pm:
I think it’s time to get our priorities in order. Pot- a natural growing substance that doesn’t kill users. And actually helps people fighting terrible illnesses. Synthetic cannabinoid- a human made substance that does kill people. Substances that the maker knows can kill people. Let’s concentrate on
eradicating the substance designed to kill people.
- JDuc - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
A drug is a drug is a drug.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 4:24 pm:
–IDPH continues to investigate to try to identify any common products and determine where they were obtained. Synthetic cannabinoids are found across Illinois and the U.S. in convenience stores, gas stations, drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores, and online.–
Perhaps IDPH could speak to the general public in a more clear way. Like what the heck are you talking about? What products do we see at gas stations and convenience stores that are “synthetic cannabinoids?”
- Sigh - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 4:49 pm:
56 cases and “IDPH continues to investigate to try to identify any common products and determine where they were obtained.” Maybe they could ask individuals involved with those 56 cases where the product was bought… maybe the local health department in these counties could buy random products at gas stations or vape shops and IDPH have them tested.. but then again, investigative skills does not appear to be a strength at IDPH. Maybe ISP could help piece the information/source(s) together.
- Swift - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 5:15 pm:
Sigh—Maybe IDPH isn’t releasing specific details about the investigation because 2 people, so far, were murdered because someone put rat poison in fake pot which is, in case this isn’t clear, a crime.
- Not a Billionaire - Monday, Apr 2, 18 @ 7:44 pm:
Sounds like spiked with rat poison. That stuff needs banning . CentralIl.