Deadly Synthetic Marijuana Emerges in Croatia, Threatens to Spread to Serbia

A dangerous new form of synthetic marijuana has emerged in Croatia, causing severe bleeding from the eyes and ears, and even death in some cases. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the EU's leading authority on illicit drugs, is sounding the alarm about this lethal substance and the threat of it spreading to neighboring Serbia.

According to the EMCDDA, the synthetic marijuana first appeared in Croatia in recent weeks. Users of the drug have experienced horrific symptoms including bleeding from their eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Several deaths have already been attributed to the substance.

Croatian authorities are scrambling to identify the exact chemical composition of the synthetic marijuana in order to better treat victims and work towards getting it off the streets. The EMCDDA is working closely with Croatia to analyze the drug and assess the scope of the problem.

Why this matters: The emergence of this deadly new drug in Croatia and the potential for it to spread to other countries in the region and beyond poses a serious public health threat. It highlights the constantly evolving nature of the illicit drug trade and the critical importance of close monitoring and rapid response by authorities to new psychoactive substances.

There is grave concern that the drug could make its way into Serbia given the proximity and flow of people between the two countries. "We are taking this threat extremely seriously and are in close communication with our Croatian colleagues," said a spokesperson for Serbia's Ministry of Health. "We are monitoring the situation closely and taking all necessary precautions to prevent this dangerous drug from gaining a foothold in Serbia."

The EMCDDA emphasized that identifying and responding to new psychoactive substances like this synthetic marijuana is a key part of its mission. The agency is committed to providing the data and analysis needed to inform health and social responses to the ever-changing drug situation in Europe.

Key Takeaways

• Deadly synthetic marijuana emerges in Croatia, causes severe bleeding and deaths.
• EMCDDA warns of threat of drug spreading to neighboring Serbia.
• Croatian authorities working to identify chemical composition and treat victims.
• Highlights evolving nature of illicit drug trade and need for rapid response.
• EMCDDA committed to monitoring and analyzing new psychoactive substances in Europe.