Find out how this holistic drug recovery program, with some 45 locations around the world, can help someone you care about. Left behind after Spice use, you might find small pipes coated with the residue of burning plant materials or small foil packages. The product could be called Pep Spice, Spice Silver or Gold, Spice Diamond, Skunk, Yucatan Fire, Black Mamba and many other names. Deciding upon the right type of rehab for you starts with first knowing what is out there and then having a discussion with a medical professional you trust. Exercises such as yoga, meditation, and other Eastern practices are conducted to help manage stress, minimize distractions, and allow those in treatment to focus on their most important goal, which is recovery from addiction. By clicking “Submit,” you certify that you have provided your legal name and phone number, agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and authorize Addictionresource to contact you.
Guidance for Caregivers and Family Members
The military has caught up to abuse of this drug in its ranks, dismissing more than 1,500 personnel in the last couple of years. Spice may have similar effects to marijuana but the high is usually induced much more quickly and is more intense. A Spice user is much more likely to have serious adverse effects than a person smoking weed.
What Is Spice Drug? Synthetic Marijuana Dangers And Addiction
Even if they falsely believe they have developed a tolerance to this drug, their excessive exposure could result in death and irreversible damage to the nervous system and other vital organs. In April 2017, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) placed six of the most common Spice ingredients on a temporary Schedule 1 ban in an effort to criminalize the purchase and possession of synthetic marijuana. It’s unclear if limiting access to these chemicals has helped to curb Spice production, however, and some experts believe this approach may contribute to the uncertainty of what’s in each batch of K2.
Effects of Spice Use: Short-Term, Long-Term, Side Effects, and Treatment
The study includes 284 people participating in the Global Drug Survey who previously tried to stop using Spice. This is the largest study of Spice withdrawal ever conducted and the first to compare the severity of symptoms with those of cannabis. Participants consistently rated the effects of Spice as more harmful than cannabis, noting that these effects were quicker to emerge but had a shorter duration than cannabis. However, participants reported that tolerance to the effects develops more quickly for Spice, meaning that people may have to use larger doses more regularly to achieve the same effect as before. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions.
If someone you know or care about is abusing synthetic marijuana, get help today. Long-term effects of Spice can include cardiovascular, psychiatric, and neurological problems that may be irreversible. Bad reactions to fake weed are common — and overdosing on the drug can trigger fits of psychosis and cause permanent organ damage.
Spice is a colloquial name given to a class of drugs known as ‘synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists’, often abbreviated to ‘SCRAs’. These drugs are produced synthetically and are typically sprayed onto a herbal material which looks similar to cannabis and can be smoked. It is a myth that it is the safe alternative to Marijuana, but it has its own negative and different levels. Spice was recently banned in Russia, Lithuania, Sweden, Austria, and Germany. Spice and K2 contain chemical compounds that are potentially hazardous to the user’s health. Ultimately, users are putting themselves at serious risk when they use this drug.
Since synthetic cannabinoids are marketed as safe and legal, combined with the lack of regulation surrounding them, the chemical compounds within them remain largely unknown. What is known, however, is that these compounds can be addictive, and continued use can lead to physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms may include anger, irritability, anxiety, and depression. Synthetic marijuana can cause many physical and mental health issues, including nausea, vomiting, elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, seizures, hallucinations, paranoia, overdose, hospitalization, and even death. It’s important to note that any of these health conditions can arise even after short-term use, as there is no safe level of synthetic marijuana use. Nonetheless, the DEA has banned some chemicals in synthetic weed and categorized 15 synthetic cannabinoids (substances similar to THC) under Schedule I. For example, JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210, and CP 47,497.
Continued use of synthetic cannabinoids can cause psychotic episodes, which in extreme cases can last for weeks, and may exacerbate existing mental-health illnesses in susceptible users. But most reports of severe mental health, addiction and acts of violence as a result of regular use tend to be among prisoners and homeless people. Spice addicts will show a range of different behavioral changes due to their dependence. These changes are a part of synthetic cannabis side effects and may go unnoticed if the users do not realize what to look for. It is important to recognize behavioral deviation in a spice drug user, as fake marijuana abuse symptoms can place the user and those around them in danger.
Long-term synthetic marijuana use can cause permanent mental issues such as memory loss and motor skill impairment. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Depending on its chemical components, it can be anywhere from four to 50 times more potent than weed. Synthetic cannabinoids encompass a large category of man-made substances that, while structurally diverse, all function similarly to THC—the active chemical responsible for the effects of cannabis. The primary effects of these compounds derive from their actions as cannabinoid receptor agonists in the brain.
These findings identify severe withdrawal symptoms as a key clinical problem among people using Spice, and highlight the urgent need to develop effective treatments to help people quit.” Withdrawal is the experience of unpleasant symptoms when abruptly stopping or decreasing the intake of a drug which has been used in large amounts for a long period of time. This occurs as the body attempts to adjust itself to the absence of drug effects, which can last for around two weeks, and may lead people to use more of the drug to provide relief from these symptoms. The more severe symptoms of withdrawal are, the harder it may be to stop using that drug. Due to its ease of accessibility and to avoid detection on drugs tests, Spice is sometimes used as a substitute for cannabis (or other drugs), particularly among homeless people or those in prison.
There are many facilities today that provide K2 dependence support to addicts in three stages. These stages of treatment include the detox process, therapy, and aftercare programs. Each phase is essential for complete healing and requires complete dedication to the course. Symptoms of Spice use are usually visible https://sober-home.org/sober-meaning/ if a person knows what to look for. Like any substance that offers a mind-altering experience, Spice can create a behavioral addiction linked to use. Many users of smokable incense report experiencing effects that are similar to marijuana, such as relaxation, altered perception, and a feeling of calm.
Despite these bans, Spice can still be purchased with relative ease in retail locations, online, and through street-level drug dealers throughout the country. Side effects of using synthetic marijuana can range from mild, such as feelings of nausea or headaches, to severe, such as heart attack or, in rare instances, death. Depending on the type of synthetic marijuana being used, and the individual’s tolerance for the substance, side effects can vary substantially. Synthetic marijuana, which is not marijuana, is much more dangerous and potent than actual marijuana.
They can be made with a wide range of man-made chemicals engineered to mimic the effects of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in pot. Because of the substantial risks of synthetic cannabinoids, many countries have already outlawed their production, possession and distribution. But it is unlikely that the “war on drugs” will show any sign of relenting, given the rapidly evolving nature of the recreational drugs market https://sober-home.org/ and the lack of globalised drug-control legislation. Only by working collectively can scientists, medical professionals and law makers help to stem the flow of these dangerous compounds before they pose a serious threat to health of vulnerable groups in society. Spice, also known as K2, has been sold as a legal replacement for cannabis. It is often packaged as “incense” and sold in convenience stores or head shops.
- Liquid K2 is designed to be vaporized in e-cigarettes and it is often mixed with alcohol, while the dried form of Spice can be steeped in hot water to make a potent, drinkable tea.
- Due to the illegal status of synthetic weed as a Schedule I classified substance, you can’t simply buy fake cannabis at your local pharmacy or a licensed marijuana dealership.
- Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone.
- This can be one of the most evident signs that someone is smoking synthetic cannabinoids.
- Long-term abuse can cause financial hardships, leading to debt, loss of housing, and loss of employment.
Liquid K2 is designed to be vaporized in e-cigarettes and it is often mixed with alcohol, while the dried form of Spice can be steeped in hot water to make a potent, drinkable tea. There are numerous reports of drug dealers combining synthetic weed with organic marijuana in order to entice users into believing they are purchasing a high-THC form of organic cannabis rather than K2. One of the most successful kinds of treatments for substance use disorders, including synthetic marijuana addiction, is CBT. CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thoughts and behavior patterns related to drug use. Being able to recognize, digest, and understand these patterns is an important part of therapy and helps build coping mechanisms that will help long after the treatment process.
However, manufacturers sometimes get around the law by altering the formula and selling it as incense, not for human use. If you suspect that your teen is abusing this drug, take the time to talk with them about the risks and potential long-term effects of Spice. Symptoms of Spice abuse vary and can include physical and cognitive symptoms.
You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Addictionresource. By the time someone realizes they have a problem, they have usually already suffered dire consequences from their drug use, such as loss of friends, jobs, or school or work performance has suffered. Support groups are peer-led and a place for people to come together and provide emotional and moral support to one another. People often find comfort in these groups because they meet others they can relate to and do not have to fear judgment.
Thus, it becomes almost impossible for researchers to find what they smoked or ingested. Technological advancements have made it possible to manufacture a new chemical in a very short duration. If it were illegal, how would one be able to purchase it from a gas station? Conversely, if it were legal, why would the DEA ban so many chemicals in it?
In the spring of 2018, a batch of poison-laced synthetic weed was sold throughout the Midwest and the Eastern Seaboard, resulting in at least three deaths and over 100 reports of uncontrolled internal bleeding. This ‘fake weed’ is usually sold in small packets containing dried, chemical-laced organic materials such as dried flowers that drug manufacturers have been known to steal from cemeteries. Tobacco, dried grape leaves, and marshmallow leaf are popular among fake marijuana manufacturers as well. Virtually any kind of dried plant material can be used to make Spice, since the active compounds in the drug come from the chemical coating, not the actual dried organic material. Individuals with mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, may use synthetic marijuana to self-medicate. This type of use is especially alarming, as synthetic marijuana can be highly addictive, which may cause some to develop a physical dependence.
This is because the K2 drug is virtually undetectable through standard urine, saliva, and blood drug testing, making it easier for Spice users to pass mandatory drug tests. Like employment, synthetic marijuana abuse can strain relationships with family and friends and lead to social isolation. This, for many, leads to break-ups, divorce, and separation from family members. Synthetic marijuana can cause memory impairment and diminished attention when used even for short durations. These impairments can lead to things like physical harm, accidents, or car crashes, which can be fatal.
Due to its heightened potency and unpredictable effects, it’s illegal in the military and several states. The long-term effects of Spice use are largely unknown due to the drug’s status as a relatively new drug on the market. However, heart damage from myocardial ischemia and renal damage are severe effects that have been reported. Both, obviously, are ominous signs of the potential long-term consequences of abusing this drug. Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers. We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders.
