text: Hooked to ventilators in hospital beds, they were on the brink of death. These shocking photos show brothers Jeff and Joey Stallings, who were placed in medically-induced comas after taking a 'bad batch' of synthetic marijuana in their hometown of McComb, Mississippi. The siblings, both in their twenties, fell seriously ill earlier this month after smoking the drug, which is a mix of herbs that has been sprayed with a chemical to produce a similar sensation to marijuana. They were hospitalized on April 6, within hours of each other, when they collapsed after suffering from hallucinations, vomiting, night sweats and violent shaking. They had to be put on life support. Critically ill: This photo shows Jeff Stallings, who was placed in medically-induced coma alongside his older brother, Joey, after taking a 'bad batch' of synthetic marijuana in his hometown of McComb, Mississippi . On life support: The siblings, both in their twenties, fell seriously ill earlier this month after smoking the drug, a mix of herbs that has been sprayed with a chemical to produce a similar sensation to marijuana. Above, Joey . BrothersL They were hospitalized on April 6, within hours of each other, when they collapsed after suffering from hallucinations, vomiting, night sweats and violent shaking. Above, the pair before their hospital stays . Fortunately, the pair rallied against the terrifying effects of the drug, and were able to return to home on April 13. However, they are now facing serious - and in Jeff's case, permanent - medical issues. And these issues are only complicated by the fact that the brothers are both addicted to synthetic marijuana, which is also dubbed Spice, Mojo, K2 and Bliss, and is much more toxic than cannabis. Now, their mother, Karen Stallings, has appealed to others not to smoke the drug, which she says has wrecked her sons' bodies and has left her youngest, Jeff, with permanent kidney damage. Speaking to DailyMail.com, she said: 'Seeing my sons in hospital was 10 times worse than what those photos show. It was just chilling. They were put in induced comas and had to fight for their lives. 'Fortunately, they fought the battle and they're now home. But they're not well at all. They're very, very addicted to it and want to get off it. They suffer from shakes, tremors and say random stuff. 'My youngest has to sit down because he gets dizzy. And he has permanent kidney damage. I'm afraid I'm going to lose him, that my son will die. That's something no mother should have to say.' Appeal: Lucikly, the pair rallied against the terrifying effects of the drug, and were able to return to home on April 13. Now, their mother, Karen Stallings (pictured with Jeff), has appealed to others not to smoke Spice . Deadly: The brothers are both addicted to synthetic marijuana (file picture). Because the herbs and chemicals in Spice vary, it is impossible for users to know what they are smoking - and in what concentrations . Recovering: Ms Stallings told DailyMail.com: 'Seeing my sons in hospital was 10 times worse than what those photos show. It was just chilling. They had to fight for their lives' Above, Jeff (right) and Joey (left) on Facebook . The distraught mother, who also has two young daughters, said her sons had purchased a bag of Spice in McComb - as they had done on a regular basis - without realizing it was a bad batch. 'The stuff is all over the town. People are selling it in bags, and Jeff and Joey got a bad batch,' she told DailyMail.com. She added matter-of-factly: 'It's going to kill my kids. This is a serious issue.' Synthetic marijuana a mix of herbs that has been sprayed with a chemical to produce a similar sensation to traditional marijuana. It is nicknamed Spice, Mojo, K2, Yucatan Fire, Solar Flare and Bliss, among other things. The drug is typically smoked by users. It does not give positive results in tests for cannabis. Because the herbs and chemicals in synthetic marijuana vary, it is impossible for users to know what they are smoking. They also cannot tell what concentrations they are taking - which can lead to fatal overdoses. Unlike pot, Spice can cause a huge range of symptoms, many of which can be severe. These include tremors, paranoia, seizures, vomiting, hallucinations, chest pain, cardiac problems, kidney damage and brain damage. Because the herbs and chemicals in Spice vary, it is impossible for users to know what they are smoking and in what concentrations - which can potentially lead to fatal overdoses. Experts say the mixture can be up to 1,000 times stronger binding to cannabis receptors compared to traditional marijuana. This means it can activate a receptor on a brain cell with maximum efficacy. In doing so, it can cause severe tremors, shakes, seizures, vomiting, hallucinations, and other frightening symptoms. Ms Stallings, who works at Santa Fe Cattle Co in McComb, said her sons were left 'flipping out'. 'They got scared,' she said. 'It was damaging their bodies. They just mentally shut down.' Family friend Jess Hurley posted the harrowing images of the brothers hooked to life support machines on her Facebook page earlier this month, asking people to pray for their family. She wrote: 'These are my friend's sons. I taught the man on the right [Jeff] how to walk and talk as a baby. 'The man on the left is his older brother. They are both on life support at this very moment because of synthetic marijuana. (Spice, mojo, whatever..) It's just not worth it. Mother: The distraught mother (pictured), who also has two young daughters, said her sons had purchased a bag of Spice in McComb - as they had done on a regular basis - without realizing it was a bad batch . Raising awareness: Family friend Jess Hurley posted the images of the brothers hooked to life support machines on her Facebook page earlier this month, asking people to pray for their family (pictured) 'People smoke it because it doesn't show up in drug tests. Unfortunately, you don't have to pass a drug test to die either. Please spare the judgments. Just warn your friends and family. And say a prayer for their mom, Karen, and sisters while you're at it. This is a huge, deadly deal! ‪#‎SPICEKILLS‬.' She updated the post on April 13. 'Because of prayers and miracles, they are awake and home. However, they face enormous medical bills. Please continue to pray for their health and struggles. They deserve the second chance God has given them!' she told users from across the world. Last year, California teenager Connor Eckhardt died after smoking one hit of synthetic marijuana. Connor, 19, fell asleep after taking the drug. His brain, deprived of oxygen, began to swell and he slipped into a coma. He was declared brain dead at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach hours later. A deadly case: Last year, California teen Connor Eckhardt died after smoking one hit of synthetic marijuana. Above, Connor is pictured brain dead, surrounded by his family, shortly before his organs were donated . 'He gave into (peer pressure) - thinking that it was okay, it was somehow safe - and one hit later, he goes to sleep and never wakes up,' Connor’s father, Devin Eckhardt told KTLA at the time. Doctors were unable to detect spice in Connor's system - there is no way to trace its everchanging components. However, they knew he had taken it after finding the package of the drug in his pocket. Connor's family donated his organs after his death, in accordance with the teenager's wishes. They later created a Facebook page to warn others about the perils of synthetic marijuana. 'Connor Eckhardt died after taking ONE HIT of synthetic marijuana (SPICE, K2, POTpourri). This dangerous substance is legal. Help us save lives by sharing,' read a post on the page.
target: Jeff and Joey Stallings took a 'bad batch' of Spice in Mississippi hometown .
  Hospitalized after suffering from hallucinations, sweats and violent shaking .
  Photos show the brothers in medically-induced comas in McComb hospital .
  Fortunately, siblings rallied against the drug's effects and are now at home .
  But Jeff has 'permanent kidney damage' and both are still addicted to drug .
  Now, their mom, Karen, has begged others not to take synthetic marijuana .
  Because chemicals in Spice vary, users do not know what they're smoking .