The ABC’s of Synthetics
By Bobbie Jo
K2, Bath Salts, and Spice, they sound like things you’d find in your own home, right? These are actually some of the latest synthetic drugs. When we hear synthetic we often think fake, but these drugs are not fake! They are man-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of other illegal drugs like marijuana, hallucinogens and amphetamines. The sole purpose of these drugs is to get the user high.
The manufacturers have used some tricky marketing tactics to make the users think these drugs are harmless. They’ve started by calling them incense, potpourri and bath salts. They’ve also put labeling on the packages like, “not for human consumption,” and “not for persons under the age of 18.” These labels allow the makers to get around requirements by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
So why are these drugs dangerous? First, the contents of the package are often unknown. Like street drugs, nobody is monitoring what the consistency or strength of these drugs is or what other dangerous chemicals are being added. Possible effects of using these drugs include vomiting, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.
What is the legal status? That is often a confusing question, because when these drugs first came out they were actually legal. However, since then the state and federal government has put a ban on chemicals used to make synthetic drugs. The punishment would be the same as someone who is caught buying, selling or using marijuana. Unfortunately, some drug manufacturers are changing the chemical compounds to get around the law.
The bottom line is that synthetic drugs are not fake, and they can pose real health risk to the users, including death.
