WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ Wichita hospitals are reporting an increase in patients being treated after smoking synthetic marijuana, often called K2.

Wesley Medical Center said Wednesday it had treated 15 patients since Sunday with reactions to the drug.

The Wichita Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/1T84Yp8 ) Via Christi also reported recent cases but did not have a specific number.

Ashley Lunkenheimer, emergency department manager at Wesley, says the patients this week ranged in age from 17 to 22.

She says the patients have been dropped off by frightened friends and police sometimes find them wandering the streets.

She says K2 patients are often combative and many can’t remember taking the drugs. Some can’t even remember their names.

Lunkenheimer says she suspects the patients might have used a dangerous batch of K2.