The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene identified geographically-clustered increases in the number of emergency department (ED) visits related to synthetic cannabinoids (synthetic marijuana). Individuals have experienced severe adverse events after suspected ingestion of synthetic cannabinoids. ED visits related to synthetic cannabinoids sharply increased beginning April 8, with more than 120 cases identified through April 15-- more than six times the number of average weekly visits in 2015. The largest neighborhood-specific increases have been observed among residents of East Harlem, with smaller increases also noted among residents of Upper Manhattan, and Central Brooklyn.

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