Synthetics

SYNTHETIC DRUGS FACT SHEET

According to the White House (official website):

Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied (often sprayed) onto plant material and marketed as a “legal” high. These drugs are now the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors after marijuana. Synthetic cathinones are man-made chemicals related to amphetamines. Synthetic cathinone products often consist of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and methylone.

There is an increasingly expanding array of synthetic drugs available. 51 new synthetic cannabinoids were identified in 2012, compared to just two in 2009. Furthermore, 31 new synthetic cathinones were identified in 2012, compared to only four in 2009. In addition, 76 other synthetic compounds were identified in 2012, bringing the total number of new synthetic substances identified in 2012 to 158.

The FDA has been working with Federal, Congressional, state, local, and non-governmental partners to put policies and legislation in place to combat this threat, and to educate people about the tremendous health risk posed by these substances.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers:

Synthetic marijuana is very different from marijuana. It contains powerful chemicals called cannabimimetics and can cause dangerous health effects. The drugs are made specifically to be abused. Like many other illegal drugs, synthetic marijuana is not tested for safety, and users don’t really know exactly what chemicals they are putting into their bodies. Poison center experts – as well as many federal, state, and local government officials – have called synthetic drug use a risk to the public’s health and a hazard to public safety.

The harmful effects from these products were first reported in the U.S. in 2009. Since then, the drugs have spread throughout the country. Poison centers received 5,230 calls about exposures to these drugs in 2012 alone. The following numbers reflect the closed human exposures to synthetic marijuana (THC homologs) reported to poison centers as of Jan. 31, 2014:

Year Number of Cases

2011 6,968

2012 5,230

2013 2,643

2014 177 (increasing daily)

Bath Salts are powerful illegal drugs that have not been tested for safety, and users don’t really know exactly what chemicals they are putting into their bodies. The side effects they cause may be permanent. Poison center experts say these substances are among the worst they have seen. In 2012, poison centers took 2,691 calls about exposures to bath salts. The drug seems to be most popular with people who are between 20 and 29 years old. However, poison centers have seen bath salts exposures in a wide range of ages, from younger than 6 to older than 59.

There are so many drugs consisting of so many different types of chemicals in synthetics that the list of possible dangers is wide and varied. Symptoms can last for hours or even days. Since these drugs are addictive, one of the signs of synthetics abuse is compulsive use despite the harm that is being experienced. The health effects from the drug can be life-threatening. Similar to the adverse effects of cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamine, synthetic cathinone use is associated with many side effects, such as: