KEEP IT REAL –
Feb. 12, 2026 – K2 is not actually cannabis, but rather a chemical that produces a hallucinogenic effect, and is most commonly sprayed on plant matter or paper, though it may also be vaped, according to the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Police in Albany reported in early December that overdoses linked to the drug had risen in recent weeks. “K2 is not something, when I first started, that was a major concern,” Macherone, a longtime Schenectady police officer, said. “That is one of our primary concerns now.” Schenectady police have been tracking nonfatal overdoses through their addiction program, Schenectady Cares, since 2021, though data were not as comprehensive until 2022, Macherone said. After tracking around 430 overdoses in 2022, the total spiked to 560 in 2023 before dropping to 332 in 2024. Last year saw a total of 356; alcohol was the leading cause, linked to 115 incidents, followed by opioids with 87 incidents, and K2 close behind at 86. Cocaine, crack-cocaine and other substances made up the remainder.
