Austin EMS blame synthetic drug for 100 calls over 10 days

Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services officials say they’ve handled more than 100 calls over the past 10 days from people getting sick after taking a synthetic drug known as K2.

While no deaths have been blamed on the drug, the Austin American-Statesman reports EMS crews have treated at least 122 people over that time.

The synthetic drug is designed to mimic the effects of marijuana.

But it also can cause violent behavior, paranoia, seizures, low heart rates and low blood pressure.