New London — A bad or more potent than usual batch of synthetic marijuana may be to blame for a rash of overdoses on Thursday that sent numerous people to the hospital, police and fire officials said.

Police said they were inundated with calls related to overdoses from what is known on the street as K2 or Spice, a drug composed of a mix of chemicals designed to mimic the effects of marijuana but often has unpredictable side effects.

Police officers and firefighters reported at least 10 overdoses at various locations in the city. Lawrence + Memorial Hospital reported additional K2 overdose victims, police said.  

New London Fire Department Battalion Chief Ted Sargent said most of the calls were concentrated in the general vicinity of Hobron Street, between Shaw Street and Montauk Avenue where the New London Community Meal Center is located. Firefighters additionally responded to a suspected heroin overdose during that time.

None of the calls appeared to be life-threatening and the overdose victims were either passing out, experiencing hallucinations or showing signs of an altered mental state, Sargent said. Some admitted to using synthetic marijuana and others showed symptoms of using it.

Three victims were treated and taken to the L+M during the same call, he said. A Waterford ambulance was called in to help with a transport.

“They do come in rashes like this but I don’t ever remember having this many in such a short period of time,” Sargent said. “We average one or two a week.”

Firefighters, who also are trained as emergency medical technicians in the city, carry naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, an opioid-reversal drug. But Sargent said Narcan is not effective on synthetic marijuana overdose patients and therefore not used Thursday.

New London Police Capt. Brian Wright said in a statement that K2 is known to cause rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, profuse sweating, confusion, hallucinations and paranoia. It also can raise blood pressure and cause a reduced blood supply to the heart, kidney damage and seizures.

"This is a very risky substance that carries a very significant health consequence," Wright said. "It is a drug that has unpredictable and serious effects."

Police are asking anyone with information concerning K2 or any other illicit drug activity to contact police at the department's narcotics hotline at (860) 447-9107, or send an anonymous tip to New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip with the information to Tip411 (847411).

 g.smith@theday.com