An Outbreak of Exposure to a Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid

Young men in Colorado presented with altered mental status and seizures after ingestion of a synthetic cannabinoid known as black mamba. Medical toxicologists and public health and law enforcement officials identified 263 cases of exposure to this novel substance.To the Editor: Although early reports of exposure to synthetic cannabinoids described a benign course,(1) with little need for emergency care, on August 24, 2013, patients began to present to Denver emergency departments with severe symptoms after exposure to a novel synthetic cannabinoid known locally as black mamba. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) was notified on September 3. Medical toxicologists and CDPHE epidemiologists developed a case definition and began prospective monitoring with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Records from poison control centers, care providers in nonhospital settings, and law enforcement were reviewed. ...