The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is warning about a synthetic drug being sold under the names Crazy Clown and Herbal Madness Incense.

People in southeast Georgia have been hospitalized in the past week after smoking or burning and inhaling the drug, according to the ECSO.

“Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, weakness and cardiac problems, but of note some subjects are experiencing paralysis,” said ECSO spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor. “Several were admitted to intensive care and are on life support.”

The Sheriff’s Office has not yet seen Crazy Clown being sold in Effingham County, Ehsanipoor said. However, the drug is becoming more prevalent in southeast Georgia, and its effects reportedly sent eight Brunswick teenagers and young adults to the hospital last week.

The drug’s active ingredient is not known. The substance is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control, Ehsanipoor said.

“It’s not something anyone needs to mess with,” he said. “Whatever is in there will cause some serious side-effects. Right now, all we can do is issue a warning until we obtain further results regarding the ingredients.”

Anyone who sees Crazy Clown being sold in any local store is asked to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at 754-3449.