The Upstate New York Poison Center hopes to educate the public on the dangers of synthetic marijuana with an awareness campaign launched today. Officials are targeting parents, teachers, youth, healthcare workers, church groups and other organizations. To invite a speaker from the Poison Center to speak to your group, call administrative director Michele Caliva RN at 315-464-7073.

The campaign is in response to the deaths of three young adults and an alarming increase in calls to the center related to synthetic marijuana. In fewer than three months, the Poison Center has logged 122 calls about synthetic marijuana, compared to 229 calls for all of last year. Most of the calls come from healthcare workers who are treating patients from the toxic effecgts.

"It is critically important that people know and understand the serious dangers related to using these drugs," said Dr. Christine Stork, the clinical director of the center.