The international drug epidemic can add synthetic drugs to the top of their list of flare-ups. Though touted as safer alternatives, these new and increasingly popular substances may in fact be more dangerous than their traditional alternatives.
The most obvious crisis is how accessible these drugs are. In many cases, they are legal. Although bath salts was recently labeled an illicit drug, even an amateur chemist can change the formula and sell it as something else under the guise “Not for human consumption”. Synthetic drugs have long been sold this way in convenience stores across the country–making it available to everyone, and making law enforcement difficult. Because they are relatively new, it is difficult to detect them in urine tests.
The other perilous aspect of these drugs is their side effects. They are psychoactive drugs, which means that they alter the mind. They are known to cause suicide, violence and psychosis.
The Basics On Synthetic Drugs
The drug-using community knows them as being somewhat cheap, undetectable on urine tests, and able to produce a “mean high”. But what are they?
Synthetic drugs are substances made entirely in a lab, designed to mimic other drugs. They are created in an attempt to remove unwanted side effects or enhance desirable qualities. Synthetic marijuana, for example, gives the same effects as its namesake. Bath salts mimic cocaine.
Technically, the term “synthetic drug” covers all man-made drugs, as opposed to those that are plant based. This includes:
• Quinine, which is an artificial version of cinchona bark. It is used to treat malaria.
• Digoxin, which is based on the foxglove plant and is used for heart conditions.
• Heroin, known chemically as diacetylmorphine. This is a synthesized version of naturally-occurring morphine from the opium poppy, originally sold as a non-addictive substitute.
• Aspirin, which is derived from salicin, a natural component of willow bark.
Nowadays, the term “synthetic drug” has come to mean specific designer drugs such as ecstasy, bath salts, synthetic marijuana, and the emerging 2C-1, also known as “Smiles”. These are amphetamine-type stimulants. Because there are so many varieties, users don’t always know what they’re taking–thereby increasing the chances of overdose.
Dangerous Side Effects
The substance 2C-1 is usually sold in powder form and mixed into a stabilizing substance such as chocolate or candy. The drug produces vivid hallucinations (with visual and audio) and feelings of giddiness and relaxation. Other, more dangerous side effects have been reported. One case, for example, was reported as hyperventilating and slamming his head against the ground. He eventually stopped breathing. Others have reported feelings of fear and panic and terrifying hallucinations, while some have even walked out into traffic or thrown themselves off buildings as a result of the drugs.
Synthetic marijuana, known on the street as K2 or Spice, also causes hallucinations–and for some, it can be fatal. People high on “fake pot” have been reported as possessed, acting in a manic rage, sometimes attacking family and friends or jumping out of moving cars or off of buildings. Even those who make it through alive leave the hospital stunned, and when interviewed they seem to have no idea that they just went psychotic, were violent, or had a seizure.
Those on bath salts have been reported as feeling super-human and manically violent, even murderous.
Narconon reviews of the subject indicate that these substances are more dangerous and unpredictable than the illicit substances they mimic. For more information on this topic or to help someone with a synthetic drug problem contact us today.
Source: http://palltimes.com/articles/2012/08/24/news/doc50340b8894515191414654.txt