Somerset County Jail Inmates Overdose 'Possibly' On Synthetic Drugs

Five Somerset County Jail inmates were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset last Wednesday due to overdoses - possibly of “synthetic marijuana.”

It was around 7 p.m. when an inmate, followed by four more inmates shortly after, complained about not feeling well and was sent to the jail’s medical department. It was determined the men needed to be sent to the hospital where they later told doctors they had used ”synthetic marijuana,” according to nj.com.

As of July 22, four inmates have returned to the jail, but the fifth remains hospitalized for non-life threatening conditions.

Officials are now investigating how the drugs got into the jail, according to Corrections One.

“Sold under many names, including K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others — and labeled “not for human consumption” — these products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects,” according to drugabuse.gov on the substance known as “synthetic marijuana.”

Possible side effects of the drug may include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations, raised blood pressure and, in some cases, heart attacks.