Last updated : November 18, 2024
Users of synthetic marijuana, predominantly teenagers and those under 30 years of age, do not realize the significant health risks they take each time they decide to light up this dangerous substance. Commonly referred to as Spice or K2, synthetic pot production has long been unregulated and contains dangerous chemical additives that pose significant health consequences for its expanding user base.
These herb and chemical mixtures are sold in bright packaging under a variety of inconspicuous names. Even though they may seem harmless, these unregulated synthetic pot mixtures have recently been linked to serious health problems and an increasing number of deaths.A recent national ban was passed this past July, outlawing the production and distribution of these dangerous substances, but this still hasn’t been able to completely eradicate the sale and use of the many forms of synthetic marijuana that can still be found at smoke shops and convenient stores across the country. Unfortunately, many young adults continue to use K2/Spice in spite of its life-threatening dangers, and many are either ending up in emergency rooms with serious health concerns or dying as a result.Despite its recent ban, convenient stores are still selling this harmful substance due to its profitability. In fact, ten convenient stores in Florida were recently raided and officials arrested fifteen individuals for selling synthetic pot, even though they had been previously warned to stop selling the dangerous synthetic drug. Three more stores in Brooklyn, New York also suffered a similar fate.
Lethal Synthetic Chemicals
The K2/Spice synthetic drugs are comprised of synthetic chemicals in an effort to resemble the effects of cannabis, but the chemicals have no relation to cannabis like many assume. They are nothing more than chemicals that are generated in unregulated labs and sprayed onto various herbs and plant material. The various forms of synthetic pot all contain different ingredients, thus the effects can be as varied as they are dangerous.
Dangers of Use
Although the physical effects from using this dangerous new drug are quite varied, visits to the emergency room are a common occurrence amongst its users. In 2010 alone, 11,406 people were admitted to emergency rooms due to this dangerous substance. Some of the common symptoms were:
- Non-responsiveness
- Seizure
- Rapid heartbeat
- Body Tremors
- Vomiting
In addition to these disturbing physical side effects, Spice also regularly causes agitation, anxiety, nausea, elevated blood pressure, paranoid behavior, and hallucinations amongst regular users.
Spice mixtures are commonly marketed as potpourri or incense, but they are definitely not meant to be used for such causes. These designer drugs are extremely dangerous and people put their life in jeopardy each and every time they light up. People never know how their body will react when they ingest the random chemicals that are used in the production of these substances.
A Case of Death
The recent death of a thirteen year old is only one of numerous deaths attributed to synthetic pot. According to triblive.com, the thirteen year old had to undergo a life-threatening double lung transplant due to severely damaging his lungs from the harmful substance. Sadly, he developed an infection and passed away shortly afterwards.
Even after such traumatic reports, some young people still consider the drug harmless, but this is only because they are the few lucky ones that haven’t become seriously or fatally ill from the designer drug. The truth is, there is no way of knowing the exact chemicals used in the production of synthetic pot, so each time someone uses it, they are taking substantial risks and may potentially suffer fatal consequences.
Thankfully, there are now drug tests available that can detect synthetic pot. Perhaps these detection measures can lead to the rehabilitation of users and curb future use and possibly save numerous lives. The increasing popularity of this potentially fatal designer drug is causing an increased demand for these testing services. Traditional drug testing does not pick up the presence of these chemicals in the body, which leads many users to believe they will not be caught. If the epidemic continues, it will not be long before testing for these drugs becomes routine, since they pose a significant concern for households and workplaces across the country.
