synthetic drugs
Synthetic Drugs:
What You Need to Know
What Are Synthetic Drugs?
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Synthetic drugs are chemically laced
substances akin to marijuana, cocaine and
methamphetamine that are sold over the
counter at convenience stores, gas stations
and tobacco shops throughout Illinois.
Based on their chemical make-up, these
drugs are commonly divided into two categories:
• Cannabinoids
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• Popularly known as K2 or Spice, cannabinoids are chemically formulated
versions of synthetic marijuana that
consist of lab-manufactured THC.
• Cathinones
• Often known as “bath salts,” cathinones contain chemical compounds
that mimic the effects of cocaine or
meth.
Though the drugs’ packaging states the
products are not intended for human consumption, their design, labeling and marketing clearly allude to the products being
smoked and inhaled as a drug.
Why Are They So Dangerous?
One reason that synthetic drugs are
extremely dangerous is that buyers don’t
know what chemicals they are ingesting.
Individual products can contain a vast range
of different chemical formulations and
potencies, some of which can be two to 500
times stronger than THC.
How Common Is Synthetic Drug
Abuse?
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According to the American Association
of Poison Control Centers, calls nationwide indicate a dramatic rise in synthetic
drug abuse. Calls from around the country
to poison control centers regarding severe
reactions to synthetic marijuana numbered
2,915 in 2010, but have risen to more than
6,300. Synthetic bath salt use is also on
the rise. In 2010 poison control centers
received 303 calls about injuries and deaths
caused by bath salts. T here have been over
5,800 reports.
| Illinois Spring/Summer 2013 | abusemagazine.org
Why Aren’t These Drugs
Illegal?
Though states, including Illinois, have implemented bans on
specific formulas of synthetic
marijuana and bath salts, drug
makers can easily sidestep these
regulations.
Manufacturers
adapt simply by replacing
the chemical compound of a
banned synthetic cannabinoid
or cathinone with a newer formulation that is not yet known
to authorities. This modification
process poses increasing risk to
its young users, who are unaware
of the reactions the new chemicals may cause.
Synthetic
drugs are
the cause
of growing
numbers
of injuries
and deaths,
particularly
in young
people, in
Illinois and
across the
country.
Source: www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov