Dozens of overdosing synthetic cannabis users had to be rescued from a park in the US on Wednesday, in varying states of consciousness.
In just 24 hours, 46 people were recovered by emergency services staff from New Haven Green in Connecticut, reports ABC News.
They were suffering from "multiple signs and symptoms ranging from vomiting, hallucinating, high blood pressure, shallow breathing, semi-conscious and unconscious states," according to director of the New Haven Office of Emergency Operations, Rick Fontana.
"There have been a couple individuals that were certainly more sicker than others," Mr Fontana said on Wednesday. "We are doing our best to get people to the hospital in the safest, most practical and efficient manner. We have no deaths reported."
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Officials believe the synthetic cannabis, also known as K2 or Spice, was laced with fentanyl - a deadly drug linked to the deaths of rock stars Tom Petty and Prince.
"Today New Haven was on the front lines of a coast-to-coast struggle to combat the public health menace of illicit distribution and use of what appear to be tainted street drugs," said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.
"I'm extremely grateful for the timely and effective work of first responders who helped revive, transport, and save these victims."
Synthetic cannabis is dangerous enough without the addition of fentanyl, a painkiller between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine. The deaths of up to 45 New Zealanders was linked to synthetic cannabis in the year to June.
A man has been arrested in relation to the New Haven overdose.
"We are asking people to not come down to the Green to purchase what is K2. Clearly there is a bad batch," New Haven police chief Anthony Campbell told the New Haven Register.
Newshub.
