Poison centers across the United States have become flooded with calls about synthetic marijuana so far this year, with 3,572 calls so far — an astonishing 229 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that calls of synthetic marijuana rose from just 349 calls in January of this year to 1,501 in May, making it apparent that things are only getting worse, according to a UPI report.

A total of 15 people have died so far from synthetic pot so far this year, a sobering reminder that faux marijuana is not marijuana and not safe for consumption.

Lab-engineering pot has been burgeoning despite warnings from law enforcement and regulators and attempts to crack down on the practice. It’s been called “spice” and is usually comprised of dried herbs that are sprayed with psychoactive chemicals meant to immitate the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is found in real marijuana.

“Spice” is often marketed as a product that is just as safe as marijuana, but it’s not, experts say. People who take the drug often report to hospitals with vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and shortness of breath, to name a few ailments.

Manufacturers try to get around regulations by switching up the chemical makeup and marketing it as “incense” rather than as an actual drug meant for consumption. Authorities say this means tougher laws are needed.

Authorities believe that better public health surveillance, targeted public health messaging, and more intense efforts to get synthetic pot out of the market are needed in order to stem the tide of faux pot abuse.