drugfree.org

Parents360Synthetic Drugs:

Bath Salts, K2/Spice

drugfree.org

“Bath Salts” are not Bath Salts

≠

drugfree.org

• Stimulants: Manmade chemicals related to amphetamines (speed)

• Substituted cathinones -- Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and mephedrone, and methylone are the chemicals most often found in “bath salts”

• Consumed orally or nasally

What are “Bath Salts?”

Drug Enforcement Administration

drugfree.org

How can you tell?

If it says it is “Not For Human

Consumption”

Or it is not illegal Or it is only for 18+ Adults Only

It is probably for ingestion, not a hot bath

drugfree.org

Many Brands and Names and Not Always Sold as Bath Salts

Plant Feeder

Insect Repellent

Stain Remover

drugfree.org

• For energy / alternative to illegal stimulants

• Perceived to be legal

• Not picked up on standard drug tests

• Available at retail outlets: convenience stores; head shops; online

Why Do Teens Use “Bath Salts”?

drugfree.org

• Very severe paranoia that sometimes causes users to harm themselves or others.

• Speed of onset – 15 minutes; Length of high – 4-6 hours

• Long term effects: Unknown

• Effects reported to Poison Control Centers

– Suicidal thoughts

– Agitation; Combative/Violent; Confusion

– Hallucinations / psychosis

– Increased heart rate; Hypertension; Chest Pain

– Death or serious injury

Effects of “Bath Salts”

Source: American Association of Poison Control Centers

drugfree.org

Calls To Poison Control Centers for Human Exposure to Bath Salts, 2010 to January 2012

2/2012

Source: American Association of Poison Control Centers, Bath Salts Data, Updated February 8, 2012 (Preliminary data).

*Numbers may change as cases are closed and additional information is received.

Pro

jec

tio

n

ba

se

d o

n

pre

lim

ina

ry

Ja

nu

ary

d

ata

In early 2011, calls closed in each month* spiked through June, then

gradually declined and is level in the past 3 months.

The number of calls closed in 2011 are over 20 times that in

2010.

2011 2012

drugfree.org

Synthetic Marijuana, K2 / “Spice”

drugfree.org

• K2 or "Spice" are common names for synthetic marijuana, however, the effects of synthetic marijuana can be very different from cultivated marijuana

• K2 or "Spice" is a mixture of herbs or dried, shredded plant material that is typically sprayed with chemicals that are similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana

• Street names: Bliss, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Blaze, Genie, Spice, Zohai, JWH -018, -073, -250

Synthetic Marijuana

drugfree.org

• Strong clove smell

• Coffee grinder – finer the powder, easier to smoke

• Drug paraphernalia (pipes, screens, etc.)

• Typically smoked

Signs of Use

drugfree.org

• Loss of control

• Lack of pain response

• Increased agitation

• Pale skin

• Seizures

• Vomiting

• Profuse sweating

• Uncontrolled / spastic body movements

• Elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and palpitations

Physical Signs of Use

Source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan

drugfree.org

• Onset – 3-5 minutes

• Length of duration – 1-8 hours

• Short-term effects: In addition to physical signs of use, users may experience:

– Dysphoria – the opposite of euphoria

– Paranoia – similar to PCP / Angel Dust

– Delusions, hallucinations and increased agitation

• Long-term effects: Unknown

Effects of Synthetic Marijuana

Source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan

drugfree.org

• K2 is typically sold in small, silvery plastic bags of dried leaves and marketed as incense that can be smoked. It is said to resemble potpourri

• K2 is sold online, in convenience stores and in “head” shops, and is usually marketed as incense

How is K2 obtained?

drugfree.org

K2 / Spice Use

Meth

LSD

Cocaine

Inhalants

Oxycontin

Hallu-cinogens

Ecstasy

OTC Cough /

Cold

Vicodin

Synthetic Marijuana

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Past-Year Use

%

Source: Monitoring the Future, 2011, Past-Year Use, 12th Graders only

drugfree.org

Calls Received by Poison Control Centers for Human Exposure to Synthetic Marijuana, 2010 to January 2012

2/2012

Pro

jec

tio

n b

as

ed

on

p

reli

min

ary

Ja

nu

ary

d

ata

2011 2012

Source: American Association of Poison Control Centers, Synthetic Marijuana Data, Updated February 8, 2012 (Preliminary data)

drugfree.org

• On November 24, 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took emergency action to temporarily control five chemicals used to make K2 and other “fake pot” products.

• On September 7, 2011, the  DEA banned three of the drugs found in bath salts

• Possessing and selling these chemicals or the products that contain is now illegal in the U.S.

• The DEA will study these chemicals to determine if these products should be permanently controlled. 

• Congress is also working to act on this issue.

• Regulators face the challenge of staying ahead of formulations

DEA takes action

drugfree.org

• It is impossible to know what these drugs contain, or who made them, or what you are going to get

• Getting high – no matter how – carries risks of making unsafe or unhealthy decisions

• Just because a drug is legal – or is labeled as legal – does not mean that it is safe

• We don’t know the long term effects of synthetic drugs because the drugs are so new

Messages Parents Can Deliver

drugfree.org

Drugfree.org ResourcesPREVENT

TimeToTalk helps you start the conversation

Habla Con Tus Hijos-Spanish-language version

The Decoder blog The Drug Guide for Parents

INTERVENE

Time to Act if you think or know your child is using.

Intervene blog Intervention eBook

GET TREATMENT

Treatment eBook Time to Get Help helps parents

better understand teen and young adult substance abuse and addiction.

RECOVER

Time to Get Help community connects parents who understand and have been there.

You are not alone

drugfree.org

Connect with The Partnership at Drugfree.org

FACEBOOK/partnershipdrugfree

TWITTER@drugnews

HELPLINE

1- 855 -DRUGFREE

eNewsletter

News & tips in your inbox.

Drugfree.org/eNewsletters

drugfree.org

PARENTS360Thank You!

drugfree.org

Acknowledgement

This project was supported by Grant No. 2010- DB-BX-K025 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.