The Bethlehem Health Bureau, Bethlehem Police Department and Bethlehem EMS have been working together to collect data on the number of emergency calls from individuals who have used synthetic marijuana. A recent press release reports that there has been a steady increase in the number of overdose related calls.

From April through July, 55 calls were made to 9-1-1 and 49 of those calls resulted in a transport to a local hospital. The majority of overdose victims have been young males.

Synthetic marijuana, marketed as a "legal high," can cause serious side effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, psychotic episodes and seizures. The drug can also produce violent reactions, creating a hazard to public safety.

Newer versions of the synthetic drug continue to appear on the market because manufacturers change their chemical compounds to create a "new" drug to bypass existing laws. The police department is urging store owners to pull synthetic marijuana products from their shelves.

The Bethlehem Health Bureau intends to continue working alongside the police department and EMS to monitor data on overdoses in order to develop and target prevention efforts.

If someone you know has used synthetic marijuana, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 and dial 9-1-1 immediately if someone has stopped breathing, collapses or has seizures.