NPR: Dozens Overdose In Connecticut Park On Tainted Synthetic Marijuana

A police officer speaks to a man on New Haven Green, where more than 70 people fell ill from suspected drug overdoses on Wednesday in New Haven, Conn. Bill Sikes/AP

According to Connecticut officials, more than 70 individuals have overdosed near the Yale University campus on Wednesday on a synthetic marijuana laced with an opioid named “K2”. Rick Fontana, the director of emergency operations for New Haven announced that 72 individuals were transported to the hospital while four individuals refused medical treatment. Interestingly, prehospital treatment with the Naloxone, a drug used to treat opioid overdoses was not effective. However, higher concentrations of it in the emergency room proved effective. According to the CDC, a record 72,000 Americans died last year because of drug overdoses — about 10 percent higher than previous figures. To read more about the incident, click here.