Synthetic Marijuana Growing Problem for Teens

Posted by azdrugrehabctr on March 24, 2015 under Synthetic Drugs | Comments are off for this article

Man-made drugs that mimic popular street drugs have become more popular among children and teenagers in Arizona and throughout the country. Manufacturers are producing drugs that create similar effects as many illicit drugs. One of the most popular types of synthetic drugs is synthetic marijuana, which is often called Spice or K2. Synthetic marijuana has been available gas stations and has been sold as other types of products. Manufacturers package and market the drug as potpourri, although it is understood that the intention is to smoke the dried leaves.

Once in the system, the synthetic marijuana quickly goes to work making the person feel high and lethargic, much like marijuana does. But this is where the similarities often stop. Synthetic marijuana has some dangerous side effects. Users of the drug, children and teenagers being the overwhelming majority, have reported feelings of intense paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, cravings and depression.

Recently, researchers set out to investigate the risk factors associated with synthetic marijuana usage. Researchers determined that young, white males were the main demographic who abused synthetic marijuana. Further study showed that teenagers that abused synthetic marijuana were more likely to abuse other drugs down the road. Despite the perception that synthetic marijuana is a safer alternative, most children were using the “potpourri” as a stepping stone to other illicit drugs down the road. The study indicated that teenagers that were abusing synthetic marijuana were twice as likely to suffer from alcohol problems in the future as well.

The main concept here is that regardless of the substance, if a young person is willing to ingest something looking to create some type of altered state, then that same intention translates to other drugs. In that sense, any first type of substance abuse ultimately becomes the “gateway drug.” Helping to eliminate that desire through other meaningful interaction is a great step in the direction of drug prevention.

Synthetic Drug Makers Sent To Jail

Posted by azdrugrehabctr on May 21, 2014 under Synthetic Drugs | Comments are off for this article

Synthetic drugs hit the market decades ago. Most people are familiar with ecstasy and MDMA – “club” drugs that are known for producing a long lasting euphoria. Lately, synthetic marijuana, opiates and cocaine have grown in popularity as well. Teens across the country have found an easier way to get high – go to the store and buy your drugs. In addition to being about to purchase some of these drugs at the local market, users are securing the drugs online as well.

It didn’t take long for officials to catch on to this new trend. In response, they set up nationwide surveillance and set out to arrest those responsible for bringing these synthetic drugs to children. After months of hard work, the DEA announced they had arrested over 150 people, seized over 20 million dollars in cash and obtained hundreds of thousands of synthetic drugs.

DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart commented that the agency was focusing on individuals “who are all too willing to experiment on our children and young adults.”

Synthetic drugs are quickly becoming more dangerous than street drugs. Because the drugs are designed in a lab they are more potent and pose a greater risk for overdose. Due to the different ingredients, many of which have never been tested, and the way the drugs are produced, many addicts suffer from serious side effects. Violent episodes, extreme paranoia and hallucinations are just some of the extreme reactions to synthetic drugs.

The most common forms of synthetic drugs are; bath salts, spice (synthetic marijuana), ecstasy and Salvia. Some of these drugs can be purchased at the grocery store or online; however, officials are starting to regulate and prohibit the sales of these substances. With the joint efforts of the DEA and local officials, the push to end the use of synthetic drugs is well under way. In fact the first phase of the round up lasted from December 2012 to June 2013. In that time period the DEA announced more than 227 arrests.