AUSTIN, Texas — A total of 17 people are being treated after ingesting K2 downtown, Austin-Travis Co. EMS said Friday afternoon. 

First responders are at the scene of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, or ARCH, 500 East 7th St. Of the 16 patients, six were transported to hospitals for treatment.

RELATED | Austin drug bust nets more than $1M in K2

#K2 Alert: Multiple #ATCEMS assets (4 ambulances & 1 command unit) on-scene at 500 block of E 7th St for reports of multiple K2 patients. This has been a developing incident since initial dispatch at 16:11. #ATCEMS Command advising at least 10 patients have been reported. MTF...

— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) June 22, 2018

K2 is a name for synthetic pot. Also known as “spice,” K2 products contain substances related to marijuana, but can be far more unpredictable. Far less is known about K2’s toxic effects than those of traditional pot, according to Trends in Pharmacological Studies. 

Over the past few years, Austin has seen thousands of cases of illness involving the synthetic substance, especially among the homeless population. 

This is a developing story. Stay with Spectrum News for updates as they become available.