NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Officials say the number of victims from a rash of overdoses on a suspected bad batch of synthetic marijuana has risen to 76 in New Haven, Connecticut.
The overdoses were reported over a 24-hour period and investigators are trying to determine what exactly sickened the victims.
People started falling ill Wednesday morning, mostly on the New Haven Green near Yale University. No deaths have been reported, and officials said most patients have been discharged.
Yale-New Haven Hospital Dr. Kathryn Hawk says some patients tested positive for the powerful opioid fentanyl, but it appears most of the overdoses were caused by a potent batch of straight “K2” synthetic marijuana. Toxicology tests are not complete.
Police have arrested a man who they say may have passed out free samples of synthetic marijuana.
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