Lapoint says he has purchased packets of these drugs and analyzed their contents. The compounds he found within varied wildly, and he says those who choose to use them can never really have any idea what they might be putting into their bodies.
The original erroneously stated Feinstein is currently analyzing blood samples from those affected. Devin Powell is a freelance science journalist living in New York City.
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Drug Topics. More Drug Topics. Quick Links. About NIDA. What are synthetic cannabinoids? False Advertising Synthetic cannabinoid products are often labeled "not for human consumption.
Points to Remember Synthetic cannabinoids refer to a growing number of human-made mind-altering chemicals sprayed on dried, shredded plant material or vaporized to produce a high.
Synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called synthetic marijuana or fake weed because they act on the same brain cell receptors as THC, the mind-altering ingredient in marijuana. The effects of synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable and severe or even life-threatening. The only parts of synthetic cannabinoid products that are natural are the dried plant materials. Chemical tests show that their active ingredients are human-made cannabinoid compounds.
Synthetic cannabinoid users report some effects similar to those produced by marijuana: elevated mood relaxation altered perception symptoms of psychosis Synthetic cannabinoids can also cause serious mental and physical health problems including: rapid heart rate vomiting violent behavior suicidal thoughts Synthetic cannabinoids can be addictive.
Overdoses can occur and can cause: toxic reactions raised blood pressure reduced blood supply to the heart kidney damage seizures Deaths can occur when dangerous synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are added without the user knowing. June Spice is most often labeled "not for human consumption" and disguised as incense.
In fact, the actual effects of spice can be unpredictable and, in some cases, severe or cause death. Most people smoke Spice by rolling it in papers like with marijuana or handmade tobacco cigarettes ; sometimes, it is mixed with marijuana. Some people also make it as an herbal tea for drinking. Others buy Spice products as liquids to use in e-cigarettes. Spice has only been around a few years, and research is only just beginning to measure how it affects the brain.
What is known is that the chemicals found in Spice attach to the same nerve cell receptors as THC, the main mind-altering ingredient in marijuana. Some of the chemicals in Spice, however, attach to those receptors more strongly than THC, which could lead to much stronger effects.
The resulting health effects can be unpredictable and dangerous. Additionally, there are many chemicals that remain unidentified in products sold as Spice and it is therefore not clear how they may affect the user. It is important to remember that chemicals are often being changed as the makers of Spice often alter them to avoid drug laws, which have to target certain chemicals.
Learn more about how the brain works and what happens when a person uses drugs. View more on NIDA. Spice use has been linked to a rising number of emergency department visits and to some deaths. Learn more about drug overdoses in youth.
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