By DANIELLE GALVIN
SYNTHETIC cannabis is being blamed for serious drug overdoses in Pakenham, after two men were placed in induced comas last month.
The controversial product, which is freely available at some Pakenham shops, has been linked to a string of serious medical incidents among users in recent times.
Attempts last year by the Federal Government to ban the artificial stimulant have been thwarted by manufacturers changing product names and altering the chemicals used to produce the intoxicating affect.
Common side-effects of synthetic cannabis drug use include:
* Acute behavioural disturbance including erratic behaviour, hallucinations and paranoia;
* Prolonged vomiting and nausea; and
* Seizures and a groggy, altered state of consciousness.
Beaconsfield MICA Paramedic David Kervin said a recent call-out illustrated the dangers of smoking the man-made “marijuana”.
“There were two cases I went to in Pakenham roughly a month ago,” he said.
“These two men had taken it – might have been with a bit of alcohol – and it had made them quite erratic.
“They were becoming slightly aggressive, their moods escalated quickly and then it caused them to be in an unresponsive, unconscious state.”
The men were believed to have inhaled the synthetic cannabis and were fitting and vomiting.
Mr Kervin said ambulance crews worked to treat the men with breathing tubes before they were both placed in an induced coma and taken to the Dandenong Hospital.
The experienced ambulance officer said it was deeply concerning that the side-effects took hold in such a short period of time.
“The message for the community is if kids are contemplating dabbling in this sort of drug, the consequences can be fatal,” he said.
When the ambulance crew arrived at Dandenong Hospital, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff member told him that the day before someone else had been admitted with similar side-effects and had some possible brain damage as a result.
“Brain and heart damage can be a consequence of what the drug does – it can make you stop breathing, which can stop the oxygen to your brain,” he said.
“So sometimes it is not a direct cause, necessarily, but this drug can be fatal and is absolutely toxic.”
Mr Kervin said the community safety message was for people to look after each other and call triple zero if someone started showing signs of severe and adverse side effects.
“Don’t wait,” he said.
Mr Kervin said he understood the drug was broken down into liquid form or powder form.
