CBP reveals secret "ground zero" in its fight against fentanyl

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has intercepted 8,000 pounds of fentanyl chemical precursors in the past three months, officials say.

• Sep 7, 2023

How Alaska became one of fentanyl's deadliest frontiers

An influx of the synthetic opioid in the last two years has vexed law enforcement, overwhelmed health systems and affected struggling Native communities.

• Mar 1, 2023

Man who dealt fentanyl that killed Mac Miller to plead guilty

Rapper Mac Miller died of a drug overdose in 2018.

• Nov 10, 2021

It’s described as being more powerful than heroin or cocaine

Medical experts and law enforcement are sounding the alarm about the dangers of a cheap new synthetic drug called flakka. It can cause psychotic breakdowns and hallucinations when people take it, and it’s described as being more powerful than heroin or cocaine. Mark Albert reports.

• Jul 13, 2015
• 03:46

Public health officials are struggling to respond to a surge in overdoses from a designer drug known as "Spice"

Public health officials are struggling to respond to a surge in overdoses from a designer drug known as "Spice." The man-made alternative to pot is sold online or in convenience stores. Jericka Duncan reports.

• Apr 27, 2015
• 03:15

Hospitals around the country have seen a severe spike in synthetic marijuana overdoses

Hospitals around the country have seen a severe spike in synthetic marijuana overdoses. The American Association of Poison Control Centers says more than 1,900 calls related to synthetic pot have been made since the start of this year. Jericka Duncan reports.

• Apr 25, 2015
• 02:33

Authorities are sounding the alarm about flakka, a new synthetic drug

Authorities are sounding the alarm about flakka, a new synthetic drug. Dr. Jon LaPook joins CBSN to explain flakka's effects and dangers.

• Apr 2, 2015
• 04:35

Officials warn of drug called "gray death"

"You don't want to touch this," police said. "If at all possible you don't even want to put it on your hands."

• Feb 6, 2020

"Zombie" drug K2 blamed for dozens of ODs

12 arrests have been made as police in Brooklyn warn of "dangerous batch" of synthetic marijuana that's sent dozens to hospital

• May 23, 2018

3 deaths tied to excessive bleeding from synthetic weed

According Illinois health officials, 107 cases of severe bleeding have been linked to the drug in the past month

• Apr 10, 2018

Synthetic weed blamed for "very severe bleeding"

"What we are seeing is people are coming in with various types of bleeding... nose bleeds, bleeding from their gums, bleeding in their urine," health officials say

• Mar 30, 2018

Suburban mom takes down drug ring she says killed her son

Her son suffered hallucinations and a panic attack after taking a form of synthetic marijuana and drove 100 mph into a house

• Feb 9, 2018

County struggles to treat 150 synthetic marijuana overdoses in one week

"We're seeing very sick patients, individuals who have very low blood pressure, and they're getting admitted to intensive care," says director of Lancaster Emergency Medical Services

• Jul 14, 2017

Dozens OD on synthetic marijuana in one town

Synthetic marijuana, often marketed as K2 or Spice, can cause aggressive behavior and lead to serious health problems

• Jul 13, 2017

Police arrest 2 suspects in connection to drug that sickened 40

Number of people affected by the drug is on the rise and the victims are primarily from the homeless population

• Apr 22, 2017

Why synthetic marijuana can cause "really bizarre" symptoms

A closer look at the side effects of the compounds that make synthetic marijuana like K2, Spice

• Feb 3, 2017

Police: 2 Utah 13-year-olds died from dangerous new synthetic drug

Two teen boys in Utah ski-resort town of Park City overdosed on a new synthetic drug that is available online, and was also found at estate of entertainer Prince after he died, police said

• Nov 3, 2016

K2 drug users "playing a game of Russian roulette"

EMS chief warns of "lethal combination" as dozens of people are treated for bad reactions to the synthetic drug in Austin, Texas

• Aug 26, 2016

Overdoses linked to synthetic marijuana called "Darkness"

"This stuff is screwing up people's brains," says district attorney investigating a surge of cases in Pennsylvania

• Aug 1, 2016

Why does synthetic marijuana make people act like zombies?

The drug contains a concoction of chemicals that produce some alarming effects on people's brains

• Jul 14, 2016

Synthetic marijuana overdose turns dozens into "zombies"

Emergency workers sent 33 people to hospitals Tuesday, saying they appeared to be under the influence of the drug known as K2 or spice

• Jul 13, 2016

Dozens hospitalized in NYC for apparent K2 overdoses

"It looked like a scene out of a zombie movie," witness says as synthetic marijuana overdoes send dozens to hospitals in Brooklyn

• Jul 12, 2016

After ravaging Florida, street drug flakka disappears

The synthetic drug known for causing psychotic outbursts first burst onto the scene a year ago

• Apr 8, 2016

Synthetic drug "Spice" sickens over a dozen in Calif.

At least 14 people in the San Diego area are suspected to have overdosed this weekend, officials say

• Nov 30, 2015

Halloween warnings about Ecstasy spook parents

Facebook is abuzz with warnings about drugs disguised as candy, but how real is the threat?

• Oct 23, 2015

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