Denver Health Medical Center Emergency Department doctor, Jeff Sankoff, third from left, updates information on the computer in between rounds on Aug. 29, 2013. Denver Health Medical Center resident Andrew Coleman, left, Hilary Lippke, RN, second from left, and Kristofer Borchard, RN, right, work the emergency room desk at the hospital. (THE DENVER POST file | Andy Cross)
This is an example of the synthetic marijuana that has sickened patients. (Provided by University of Colorado)
The state health department has launched a wide probe into a recent spate of illnesses from synthetic marijuana products, including whether three recent deaths are connected.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said it is teaming with local health agencies, hospitals and the federal Centers for Disease Control on the investigation, after reports of about 75 recent illnesses.
"Several individuals were in intensive care, and three deaths are being investigated as possibly associated," said a release by the state agency.
The CDC is sending four people to help with the epidemiological probe, which will look at medical charts of patients reporting the symptoms and study toxicology results.
The announcement comes after metro Denver emergency rooms have seen a spate of new cases they attribute to the material, which often comes in teabag-size packets under names like Spice or Black Mamba. The drugs are usually pieces of dried herb sprayed with synthetic chemicals that can mimic the effects of marijuana without leaving a THC trace in urine samples.
The drugs, illegal under federal and state law, don't disclose their chemicals, and health officials say buyers have no idea what toxic mix they might get. Patients arrive at the ER often after an aggressive or hazardous action, such as running into traffic or jumping from heights, and can be violent with responders and hospital staff.
Hospital officials say they see periodic surges in cases related to the drugs, which are usually smoked, but Denver had been quiet for most of the last year until now.
"Don't wait for the results of this investigation. If you have synthetic marijuana, stop using it and destroy it," said Dr. Tista Ghosh, interim chief medical officer for state health.
Michael Booth: 303-954-1686, mbooth@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mboothdp
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