Synthetic Cannabinoid Exposures Reported to Texas Poison Centers

ABSTRACT

Synthetic cannabinoid abuse is increasing in the United States. Synthetic cannabinoid exposures reported to Texas poison centers in 2010 were identified, and the distribution of exposures by selected factors was determined. There were 464 total cases. The number of exposures increased each month during January-July, then remained relatively constant for the next 5 months. The patients were 73.9% male and 57.3% were 20 years or older. Moderate or major effects or potentially toxic outcome occurred in 59.9% of the exposures. The most frequently reported clinical effects were tachycardia (37.3%), agitation (18.5%), drowsiness (18.5%), vomiting (15.7%), hallucinations (10.8%), and nausea (9.9%).

KEYWORDS:

• Synthetic cannabinoid
• marijuana homolog
• poison center

Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided by a contract with the Commission on State Emergency Communications in Texas.

The authors thank the staff of the six poison control centers (Central Texas Poison Center, North Texas Poison Center, Texas Panhandle Poison Center, South Texas Poison Center, Southeast Texas Poison Center, West Texas Regional Poison Center) of the Texas Poison Center Network who collected the data.