Radio Shows Smoking Incense mp3 … wma … wav. Imagine finding your teenager sweating, pale, shaking, not recognizing you, and talking, but not making sense.
What we described can happen from smoking a seemingly harmless herbal incense. They're available at gas stations, smoke shops, and the internet. The incense, when smoked, produces effects similar to marijuana, yet, any child can buy it. That's because it's marketed as incense and labeled "not for human consumption. The herbs are sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids. Yep, synthetic versions of the active ingredient in marijuana — tetrahyrocannabinol or THC.
Synthetic cannabinoids were originally synthesized in the lab of Dr. His department recently issued a warning about the incense to parents through its Neighborhood E-Watch report. While kids may be looking for a quick high, they can end up on a bad trip. The herb-and-spice mixture is sprayed with a potent psychotropic drug that may be contaminated with toxic substances, Dr. Anthony Scalzo, a toxicologist at Saint Louis University, said in a written statement.
In February, he treated almost 30 cases involving teenagers who experienced hallucinations, severe agitation, and elevated heart rate and blood pressure after smoking the fake pot.
Some suffered tremors and seizures. In Denton, three youths experienced some of the same symptoms after smoking the phony pot. The first incident was reported on March 26 when police responded to a disturbance call at a party and found one man experiencing severe hallucinations.
They even had a priest on the phone. On April 28, officials were dispatched on a medical call for a year-old male who had received K2 from church friends and began having breathing problems.
The most severe case was reported on April 28, when an year-old woman and her boyfriend mixed K2 with Spice. Within six minutes of inhaling the product, the young woman began having breathing problems, and she later suffered seizures.
By using different synthetic marijuana mixtures, manufacturers are able to continue to legally market their products in the United States when another formulation becomes illegal. According to the DEA, the majority of these chemical compounds are produced in Asia with no regulations or standards.
Some of these chemicals are still legal. However, since synthetic marijuana first hit the market, more than 20 of these compounds have become controlled in some way at the federal level. This places them in the same federal category as heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Many people buy into the idea that fake marijuana products are safe since the chemicals are "legal" and contain "natural" ingredients.
However, this has proven to be false with multiple cases of severe, unexplained bleeding or bruising, and some deaths. Some of the fake marijuana products sold commercially claim to contain herbs traditionally used for medicinal purposes, including:. However, one study revealed that some of the herbal ingredients listed by the manufacturers could not be found in the products.
Beyond the synthetic cannibinoid HU, which is used by scientists to identify cannibinoid receptors in the brain and study the effects deltatetrahydrocannabinol deltaTHC , there are no approved or off-label medical uses for synthetic marijuana.
While research is advancing, the effect synthetic marijuana products may have on the human body is largely unknown. To date, few studies have been published testing the effects of the chemicals.
Within the DEA report, it's noted that overdoses have caused fatal heart attacks. Similarly, acute kidney injury resulting in hospitalization and dialysis have been connected to these synthetics.
One study compared the level of impairment for drivers who were arrested for intoxicated driving. One group had smoked synthetic cannabinoids and those in the other group had used marijuana.
The study found a significant increase in confusion, disorientation, and incoherence in the synthetic marijuana group. Slurred speech, a side effect not normally associated with natural cannabis use, was also reported among the people who had taken synthetic cannabinoids. Beyond the short-term effects mentioned, an increase in blood pressure, as well as seizures, tremors, and anxiety, have been noted in people who have used synthetic marijuana.
Whether these observed symptoms will have lasting effects, particularly on adolescents and young adults, is not yet known. Of course, smoking any substance could have negative effects on the lungs. There were also cases in which a version of synthetic marijuana was laced with rat poison, causing uncontrolled bleeding in hundreds of people and killing several others who ingested the tainted products.
If you or a loved one has used synthetic marijuana and begin experiencing severe, unexplained bleeding or bruising, call or asked a loved one to take you to the hospital immediately. These are all signs of contaminated cannabinoid products. If you are a parent of a young adult, it pays to know the behaviors and physical effects of using fake weed.
While exhibiting one or two of these signs might not mean that your child is using, they are all strong indicators of drug use and should be taken seriously. Physical effects:. Contrary to common belief, herbal bud is not "natural marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is also far more potent, containing THC analogs or synthetic cannabinoids that can be up to times more potent than THC found in marijuana.
Often, additives, toxic impurities, and other types of drugs are also found in fake weed products. If you regularly use synthetic cannabinoids, you can also become both physically and psychologically dependent. This means if you stop abruptly, you'll likely experience withdrawal symptoms. Since the chemical composition of fake weed is unknown and can change from batch to batch, tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal may also vary. How long synthetic cannabinoids stay in your system depends on several factors, including the type, how it is administered i.
Since these synthetic drugs don't trigger a positive result on most standard urine drug tests, many people turn to these drugs in an attempt to avoid positive drug screens for employment, rehab, or legal reasons.
Long-term, regular use of synthetic cannabinoids can lead to addiction. If you have a history of mental illness or a substance use disorder, the risk of addiction is even greater. In addition to building up a tolerance and experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, other signs of synthetic cannabinoid addiction can include:. Symptoms of synthetic weed withdrawal can range from mild to severe, depending on how frequent and how long you have been using, and include the following:.
If you suspect that someone you love is using synthetic marijuana, the most important thing you can do is spend time with them, communicate the dangers of fake weed, and watch for any signs of use. While behavioral therapies and medications have yet to be specifically tested for the treatment of synthetic cannabinoid addiction, a healthcare professional can work with you and your loved one to safely detox from the drug as well as identify and treat any co-occurring mental illness.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. National Institutes of Health. Updated February US Senate. Statement of Joseph T.
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