Synthetic Marijuana May Pose an Even Greater Psychosis Risk

According to a news release from the DEA at the time of the ban, synthetic cannabis (smokeable herbal products, Spice) have become especially popular with teens and young adults because they are marketed as being legal while containing chemicals that supposedly mimic THC.

"Young people are being harmed when they smoke these dangerous 'fake pot' products and wrongly equate the products' 'legal’ retail availability with being 'safe,' “added DEA administrator Michele M. Leonhart in the news release.

"These chemicals, however, have not been approved by the FDA for human consumption, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process," writes the DEA. Synthetic cannabis is often labeled as "herbal incense" and reportedly causes cannabis-like psychoactive effects. Its use led to hundreds of visits to emergency departments since 2010.

Synthetic cannabis products pose a risk for psychosis in users, including those with no prior history of a psychiatric disorder. Spice may pose an even greater risk of psychosis when compared with the natural product as it lacks the antipsychotic protective agents found in natural cannabis. These findings were presented at the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) 22nd Annual Meeting & Symposium.

Alan J. Budny, PhD, from the Center for Addiction Research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, warns parents that some teens use synthetic cannabis to "beat the tests" done to detect marijuana use. As Spice does not get picked up on the regular drug tests parents should look for more sensitive tests that are now being developed and marketed to test synthetic marijuana.

High Problematic Substance Among Teens, K2 Has Been Banned

Synthetic Marijuana (K2, Spice) which has become a highly problematic substance among young adults has been banned. On November 24, 2010, Drug Enforcement Administration Officials finally imposed a nationwide ban to the "legal weed", K2, due to the alarming rise in reported abuse. Also known as Spice the herbal blend has been sold in small, silvery plastic bags of dried leaves and marketed as incense that can be smoked. Easy available at convenience stores and specialty shops K2 mimics the effects of marijuana and has gained alarming popularity for such copycat abilities.

The ban is to take effect in the next 30 days or so and it will make illegal for at least a year to sell or possess products containing the five chemicals found in K2. Some 15 states already have banned some or all "legal high" products. When the waiting period expires, sale or possession of the substances will be a federal crime.

"Legal high" products claim to be mixtures of herbs that can be smoked for a psychedelic effect. But the herbs listed on the package label often are missing from the actual product. Instead, the product contains a leafy mixture that is spiked with a designer drug -- usually one of the five drugs listed by the DEA. The same product often is spiked with different doses of different drugs, making it impossible for users to know what they are taking.

Unlike cannabis, which has been used by humans for millennia, the new synthetic marijuana had never been tested in humans.

Street Names: Bliss, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Genie, Nice, Guy, Oasis, Spice, Zohai

Ingredients: Beach Bean, White and Blue Water Lily, Rosehip, Blue Lotus

Mean Chemical Ingredient: JWH-018

Methods of Abuse: K2 products are usually smoked in joints or pipes, but some users make it into a tea.

Effect on the Mind: Psychological effects are similar to those of marijuana and include paranoia, panic attacks, and giddiness.

Effect on the Body: Physiological effects of K2 include increased heart rate and increase of blood pressure. It appears to be stored in the body for long periods of time, and therefore the long-term effects on humans are not fully known. If you or someone you know is in need of addiction treatment and or counseling, reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237

http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/