Designer Drugs: Spice and Bath Salts
To the uninitiated and uninformed, the
names appear harmless enough: Spice, Bath Salts, K2, Moon Rocks, and Spice
Diamond, among others. The labels might
conjure up images of products one might find in a retail bath and body shop.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth. These products are illegal designer
drugs.
Spice
is commonly known as synthetic cannabinoid or synthetic pot. Bath salts (e.g.,
Bliss, Bloom, and Ivory Wave) contain synthetic cathinones
(stimulants/hallucinogens) similar to amphetamines. Bath salts are also
referred to as jewelry cleaner, plant food, or phone screen cleaner. Generally
ingested through smoking, the chemicals are intended to create a high similar
to smoking marijuana. However, the poisons sprayed on the plant or herb (not
marijuana) can result in Emergency Room visits or even death.
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| StockPhotos |
Dangers of Designer Drugs
What makes designer drugs so dangerous is
that these products are manufactured illegally, therefore they are difficult to
regulate. Most often, they contain unpredictable contaminants that do not show
up in drug tests (SAMHSA, 2014). “There is no consistency or quality control,”
stated Barbara Carreno, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spokeswoman.
“The people making these products can be anyone from a college kid wanting to
make extra cash to an operation blending large quantities in a cement mixer.
Two batches made by the same person could have different doses” (Zdanowicz,
2013).
Targeted Audience
Synthetic pot usage sent 3,780 youths,
aged 12 to 17, to the Emergency Rooms during 2010. In 2011 that number doubled significantly to
7,584 youths. For patients aged 18 to 20, visits increased fourfold, from 1,881
between 2010 to 8,212 visits in 2011 (SAMHSA, 2014). Recent reports find that one in every nine high schoolers admits to having used fake weed.
Marketing
and Purchasing
There
is no drug pusher or dealer required when looking for Spice or Bath Salts. In
fact, the majority of sales occur through the Internet (Wilson, 2013). Products
are easy to find at convenience stores, gas stations, “head shops,” and other
outlets. And, unlike controlled
substances,
such as tobacco and alcohol, there are no age restrictions for purchasing.
Marketing ploys can also be deceptive. Advertising the products using terms
such as natural, organic, herbal incense, and potpourri are misleading as the
public perceives them to be safe. They
are
also advertised as a “legal” alternative to marijuana.
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| Courtesy of: DEA and Huffington Post |
Symptoms/Adverse Reactions
Health effects from designer drug use can
be life threatening. And, the symptoms may be so sudden that there is no time
to call for help. These include:
· Anxiety
· Disorientation
· Fast, racing heart
rate and elevated blood pressure
· Impaired
perception
· Intense
hallucinations
· Irritability
· Muscle spasms,
seizures, and tremors
· Nausea and
vomiting
· Non-responsiveness,
loss of consciousness, paralysis, and catatonic/listless states
· Paranoid behavior
and extreme paranoia
· Psychotic episodes
· Reduced motor
control
· Self-inflicted
wounds
· Severe agitation
· Suicidal
tendencies
· Violent episodes
and outbursts
· Acute kidney
injury (SAMHSA, 2014)
Toward Prevention
Designer drugs, such as Spice and Bath
Salts, pose a serious threat to the nation’s public health and safety. At this
time, very little is known about synthetic marijuana or how to treat an adverse
reaction or overdose (Wilson, 2013).
Warning signs that someone you know may be
using synthetic pot include bloodshot eyes, migraine headaches, mood changes,
and withdrawal. For parents, effective interventions include discussing the
dangers of these drugs with their children and using parental controls for
online purchases. The Partnership at Drugfree.org provides online tools to help
adults understand synthetic drugs.
Written by: Sonja Koukel, PhD
Community & Environmental Health Specialist
*References Avaliable Upon Request
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