Over the past few years, synthetic drugs like K2, spice and bath salts have become an increasing problem in the United States. Sold under a variety of names online, in corner stores, gas stations, and bodegas across the country, these drugs have been the cause of a huge number of emergency room admissions, suicides, violent attacks and erratic behavior. As synthetic drugs are new to the black market and the United States, many are unsure of what they are or what they do. Here’s the lowdown.

What Are Synthetic Drugs?

Synthetic substances may be sold in packages labeled as incense or plant food and marked as “not for human consumption,” but those who buy synthetic drugs smoke the substance in order to get high off the active ingredient, a synthetic version of cannabinoids found naturally in marijuana. They are marketed as a legal high because manufacturers work hard to keep the latest versions chemically different enough from the last batch to stay ahead of FDA and DEA regulations that ban addictive substances.

Most users are teens and young adults who are too young to drink. One survey estimated that more than 11 percent of high school seniors in the United States had experimented with synthetic substances like K2 or spice.

Why Are Synthetic Drugs a Problem?

Since 2010, synthetic drugs have been making waves in the US. From a spike in emergency room admissions related to use and abuse of the drugs to headlines touting the bizarre behavior of people under the influence of the substance, synthetic drugs have made a huge impact in the few short years they’ve been in use in this country. Though there is little in the way of scientific research to determine long-term effects of abuse of synthetic substances, the anecdotal evidence is piling up. We know that:

• People have attacked others while under the influence.
• Some have committed suicide while using synthetic substances even though their families have reported they were not depressed or suicidal.
• The number of calls to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) about synthetic marijuana more than doubled between 2010 and 2011 – from 2,906 to 6,959.
• The number of calls to the AAPCC about bath salts specifically increased 20 times over in a single year, from 304 in 2010 to 6,138 in 2011.

Synthetic drugs, despite the lack of regulation and research into long-term effects, are exceedingly dangerous. People are dying because of these drugs. If you or someone you love is unable to stop using these and other illicit substances, drug rehab can help. Contact us today at Axis to learn more about your options in addiction treatment services.