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 Dozens of people in Illinois, including two who
died, have experienced severe bleeding, such as coughing up blood,
blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, and/or bleeding gums, after
using synthetic cannabinoids.
Several of these cases have tested positive for brodifacoum, a
lethal anticoagulant often used as a rodenticide, or rat poison. To
date, no cases have been reported in Logan County.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the
number of people experiencing severe bleeding after using synthetic
cannabinoids is still increasing. LCDPH will work with state and
federal public health officials to try to identify common products
and where it is coming from. LCDPH strongly urges 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.
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Public health officials continue to investigate to try to identify any common
brand 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.
Anyone who has a reaction to synthetic cannabinoids, such as severe bleeding,
should call 911 or have someone take them to the emergency department
immediately. The number of cases and counties of residence are posted on the
IDPH website at 1:30p.m. each weekday.
Information Source: Illinois Department of Public Health
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