- Adderall
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Chronic Relapse
- Cocaine
- Codependency
- Compulsive Hoarding
- Crack Cocaine
- Crystal Meth
- Dual Diagnosis
- Eating Disorder
- Ecstasy
- Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- Gender Specific Issues
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Inhalants
- Ketamine (Special K)
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
- Marijuana
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- OxyContin
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Prescription Drug Abuse
- Process Addiction
- Ritalin and Concerta
- Sex and Love Addiction
- Steroids
- Suboxone
- Synthetic Cannabis
- Trauma
- Valium
- Video Game Addiction
- Xanax
Synthetic Cannabis
The latest psychoactive substance to gain notoriety is K-2, also known as Spice. What it is exactly is a bit confusing. Some sources identify it as a synthetic marijuana, with its active psychoactive substance being a synthetic cannabanoid (the active ingredient in marijuana is THC, tetrahydrocannabinol). This chemical, coupled with other ingredients is what gives K-2 its intoxicating effect. Other reliable sources say that Spice is a collection of herbs and spices (hence its name) and that smoking these is what creates intoxication. None of its contents is illegal, and the product is sold as incense with labeling that indicates that it is not for human consumption.
Across the nation, users of K-2 have been reporting a wide range of negative effects ranging from headaches and nausea to hallucinations and blacking out. It is difficult to sort through the hyperbole and separate the true from the fabricated. Here is what is has been verified:
- In most cases, K-2 contains synthetic cannabanoids, and is used to experience its psychoactive effects.
- It is not illegal on the federal level, and banning it is on a community-to-community basis.
- It does not register on drug tests, making it a preferred intoxicant of choice.
- Reliable studies do not exist that examine its short and long-term effects, making it difficult to determine if it is as dangerous as some reports claim.
All of this raises an even greater question: Why is its use spreading at the rate it is, and why are people –especially young people – so eager to try it?
For one part of the population, its use is understandable (that does not mean it is condoned), and that is those who are on probation who have not come to terms with their substance abuse issues. Because substance is not illegal, and because it does not show up on drug tests, it provides the high that abusers seek. Because banning Spice is only on a community wide basis, probationers and parolees can obtain K-2 simply by walking across the street if it is banned in one community, and not in another.
Because of the dearth of clinical testing, it is not known how severe its effects are. It is strongly believed, although to this point the evidence is only anecdotal, that using Spice causes impaired driving, poor decision-making, and has the potential for dependency. These general patterns of behavior will drive testing that will work to determine how damaging K-2 is. Until results are fully known, it is best not to experiment, despite what other’s may say (that is a mantra of the addict, right – try it, I did and I am fine), and to discourage other’s from experimenting. As a community-wide initiative, political action can be taken to forbid its sale.
If you are worried that someone you know is using K-2, the signs are the same as marijuana use – red eyes, hunger, slurred speech (see our article on Marijuana for further information), and its suspected use should be handled in the same way.