Designer Drugs
What are "Designer Drugs?"- Synthetic (lab made) drugs
- Made in illegal labs, therefore, ingredients and potency vary
- Types of "Designer Drugs" also known as "Club Drugs"
- NOTE: Designer Drugs/Club Drugs are constantly changing and new drugs and new variations of drugs appear all the time.
- Two newer "Designer Drugs:"
- Bath Salt
- K2 or Spice
What is "Bath Salt?"
- "Fake Cocaine" - a synthetic stimulant or powdery substance sold legally
- Contains mephedrone and methylenedixpyrovalerone, also known as MDPV
- Sold legally at convenience stores and on the internet as bath salts or plant foods
- Product is made in labs and not regulated because they are marketed "not for human consumption"
- Substance is being intentionally snorted, injected or smoked
- Also known as:
- Ivory Wave
- Red Dove
- Bliss
- Vanilla Sky
- White Lightning
- Hurricane Charlie
- Side effects:
- Hallucinations
- Extreme Paranoia
- Chest Pains
- Prolonged Agitation
- Muscular Pain/Muscle Spasms
- Rapid and Irregular Heartbeats
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Acute Paranoid Psychosis
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Death
- Appears to be extremely addictive
- ABC News - "Imitation Cocaine Killed Florida Man, Say Authorities"
- CADCA - Bath Salts Cause Concern in Some Communities
- The Washington Post - Officials fear bath salts becoming the next big drug menace; January 23, 2011
- The Columbus Dispatch - Drug known as 'bath salts' rising plague; January 23, 2011
- Center of Disease Control and Prevention - Emergency Department Visits After Use of Drug Sold as "Bath Salts" - Michigan, November 13, 2010 - March 31, 2011; May 20, 2011
What is "K2" or "Spice?"
- Synthetic cannabis - "fake weed"
- Sold as incense labelled "not for human consumption"
- Product is made in labs and not regulated - they are not all the same - can be anywhere from 5 to 800 times more potent that THC from marijuana
- Contains JWH-018, a synthetic man-made drug and other toxic chemicals
- Side effects
- Seizures
- Acute Anxiety
- Panic
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Rapid Respiration
- Elevated Blood Pressure
- Hallucinations
- Vomiting
- Severe Agitation
GOOD NEWS! On March 1, 2011 "the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control five chemicals (JWH-018, JWH-200, CP-47, 497, and cannabicycolhexanol) used to make so-called "fake pot" products. Except as authorized by law, this action makes possessing and selling these chemicals or the products that contain them illegal in the United States." - Office of National Drug Control Policy press release. Click here for rules and regulations.
Update - On June 26, 2011 South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported a new synthetic marijuana that has evaded DEA ban due to a change in formula. A new synthetic marijuana product called "Barely Legal" is now being sold in stores and on the internet. The producers of "Mr. Nice Guy," which is no longer sold, has been reformulated so that the new brand does not violate the DEA ban, and Sun-Sentinel says is stronger than the old formula. Click here to read the full article.
Click here for more detailed information about synthetic marijuana and additional resources.
