Authorities in New Haven, Connecticut say they’re still seeing drug overdoses after more than 70 people were hospitalized on Tuesday night and Wednesday due to what officials believe to be a tainted batch of synthetic marijuana called K2.
Police Chief Anthony Campbell said police have more than tripled their usual presence on the green and would keep emergency workers on hand for the foreseeable future.
“We will have a continued presence on the New Haven Green, both today and in the days to come, to assure that no further victims can purchase or further sales can be done on the New Haven Green,” he said.
Campbell said he will ask police to ramp up their efforts to protect those who suffer from drug addiction. “Someone with malice in their heart took advantage of this vulnerable population. But that will not stop this city from reaching its hand out to those who are in need and treating them and providing these services,” he said.
Dr. Sandy Bogucki is with Yale-New Haven Hospital. She said, “People who smoked it or ingested it in some way tended to go down very fast, almost right in their tracks. The effects did not last long, and they were able to discharged in most cases from the hospital fairly soon, which meant they were able to go back the green to seek another high.”
Bogucki said as a result, some people returned to the hospital to be treated for multiple overdoses. No deaths have been reported. At least 14 overdoses were reported Thursday alone.
Police said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the overdoses, but haven’t released their names.
