“Zombie drug” would have killed 14 inmates in a prison in Minas Gerais; see the effects it causes

The death of at least 14 inmates allegedly from drug overdoses from the K family sparked an alert from the Minas Gerais Security forces. The problem, according to experts, is made worse by the ease of hiding the drug and its destructive power, which may be greater than that of crack.

Family K drugs are substances produced in the laboratory. They are given different names depending on how they are consumed. K2 is when the product, in liquid form, is applied to paper. Use with tobacco, for smoking, is called K4. When the material is sprayed on other narcotics, such as marijuana and cocaine, the name is K9.

Despite the different nomenclature, experts warn that the symptoms of drug use are similar. They affect the central nervous system and reduce the user’s consciousness.

“These drugs lead to agitation, changes in the user’s mood, hypertension, profound irritability, psychotic episodes and even profound hallucinations, leading to overdose and death. There are also studies that report that their use can cause cancer and other chronic diseases”, explains Yuri Machado, an expert from the Civil Police of Minas Gerais.

The Government of Minas Gerais is investigating the deaths of at least 14 inmates who allegedly overdosed on the substance. They were detained in the Antônio Dutra Ladeira and Inspector José Martinho Drumond Prisons, both in Ribeirão das Neves, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.

The deaths under investigation were recorded between December last year and April this year. The last death occurred on the 19th. The report had access to the medical report that indicates possible consumption of K9. The inmate’s family questions how the drugs got into the prison. The liquid nature of the substance, according to experts, makes control difficult.

“All institutions need to come together to create new safety and health protocols because in addition to improper entry, the drastic effects [da droga] worry. It is not possible to say at this moment that there is a lack of structure. The system has problems, but the large units have body scan and preventative safety equipment, but if you get wet [a droga] and stick it on the blouse, the body scan will not detect it”, warns André Luis da Silva, secretary of the criminal law commission of the OAB-MG (Brazilian Bar Association in Minas Gerais).

CNN