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Subscribe to RSSStreet drugs known as synthetic marijuana — also known as K2 and Spice — were linked to 11,406 visits to U.S. emergency rooms in 2010, according to a new government report.
Of these visits, 75 percent involved people between ages 12 and 29, with males accounting for 78 percent of the visits of that age group. In the majority of cases, the patients had used no other substances.
About 3,800 of the ER visits involved teens between ages 12 and 17, and a recent national survey of high school seniors showed that 11 percent reported using synthetic marijuana in 2011. These findings are "cause for concern," the report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said.
"Parents, teachers, coaches and other concerned adults can make a huge impact by talking to young people, especially older adolescents and young adults, about the potential risks associated with using synthetic marijuana," SAMHSA administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a statement.
There is no age restriction on purchasing the drugs, and their popularity among young people has grown, according to the report.
The drugs are designed to act on the body in a way similar to marijuana, and have been linked with a number of side effects, including vomiting, rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, seizures, hallucinations and paranoid behavior.
"As synthetic cannabinoids have become more available, the number of ER visits involving synthetic cannabinoids has increased," according to the report.
In July, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act enacted a comprehensive, national ban against the sale of the drugs. But the products are difficult to regulate and may be available online, the report noted.
The report is based on data gathered from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related ER visits in the U.S.
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Happened to me. Vomiting, dizziness. Thought I was going to frickin die..
The problem is simple. These people are smoking “spice” with the thought in mind that there are no negative repercussions from smoking marijuana (which is absolutely true). They are forgetting to take notice that they are not consuming THC, they are taking in a variety of chemicals that are bad for the body in more ways than one, but don’t seem to acknowledge that because the effects are “similar to those of smoking the ganja”. That’s what needs to be reminded to these people, although there is always the clear as day “Not for human consumption” warning on the packaging. My only advice to the people that are smoking this crap is, just go smoke some weed.
Why is this product still on shelves????
This is legal. Frickin' Absurd. Federally Legalize Actual Marijuana Now.
I don't even know why they call it "Synthetic" marijuana, it is no where near the same chemical structure of THC.... its more kin to LSD and other forms of "acid" sprayed onto a smoke-able herb.
The only reason marijuana is outlawed is because hemp was poised to replace lumber in the primary ingredient for paper, and it can replace many of the prescription drugs used today, cheaper and without patents.
I think the reason authorities and the media link this stuff to marijuana is to further demonize weed. Unfortunatly, there are many who will ony notice "ER" and "marijuana", further bolstering their mindless and senseless objections.
So, just legalize the real stuff and stop messing with the synthetic crap! People will get pot one way or another, and if it isn't easy to get, they'll go for the high somewhere else, especially if it is 'legal'.
To state it succinctly, legalizing small amounts of cannabis for personal use would put these synthetic "poisons" out of existence. There would be absolutely no need for them. We need to keep our youth out of harm's way as much as we possibly can. Why are the "big bucks" always more important than our citizens?
Why synthesize something when you can grow the actual plant. Actually Marijuana was probably made illegal due to the oil companies since Henry Ford actually produced a car made completely of composite marijuana oil and it ran 100% on Hemp oil. Since he completed his car in in 1937 and marijuana became illegal in 1937, I think this had a big part. Also every corporation back then stood to lose fortunes if it was mad legal.
As the methods for processing hemp into paper and plastics were becoming more readily available and affordable, business leaders including William Randolph Hearst and DuPont stood to lose fortunes. They did everything in their power to have it outlawed. Luckily for Hearst, he was the owner of a chain of newspapers. DuPont’s chief financial backer Andrew Mellon (also the Secretary of the Treasury during President Hoover) was responsible for appointing Harry J. Anslinger, in 1931 as the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
Hearst’s papers deplorably published enhanced accounts of marijuana-crazed black men raping white women. With these sensationalist newspaper stories as his support, Anslinger testified before Congress that, “Marijuana is the most violence causing drug in the history of mankind.”
Anslinger completely contradicted himself later--before Congress again in 1948—when he testified that marijuana caused its users to become peaceful and pacifist, and that Communists would use marijuana to weaken America’s will to fight. http://wafreepress.org/article/090304marijuana.shtml
you synthesize so you can avoid the law.... yes it sounds stupid, but that's what DEA makes you do, play cat and mouse until they list the substance under their radar then off you go to synthesize another thing not yet on their list.
Man, if Ford did produce that car, not only dogs would chase it. Downtown would get high in rush hour - cool. So much for road rage
And the fact remains you cannot get sick or OD on the real thing is what is frightening here. You ban what is natural so you force everyone to do the unnatural..... The government is sick, frighteningly disgustingly sick....
hold on let me snort this bath salt and tell you what i think -lol
I'll bet trips to the emergency room due to spice go down in Colorado and Washington. The rest of the nation needs to follow suit...
just for comparison, how many for actual marijuana? 0? yeah, keep Spice available, and keep fighting marijuana. this makes sense like dropping bombs on innocent children brings peace.
To agree with everyone else here; legalize the real thing across the country and we wouldn't have this problem.
I'm glad folks in my home state, CO, understand that.
Don't you realize the negative impact marijuana legalization would have on the liquor and pharmaceutical industries? And they have lobbyists on the payroll. Oh no, we can't have that......
It is amazing to see so many in support of outright Cannabis and hemp legalization, where are all the DEA shills, Big Pharma and Private Prison P/R Hacks and Helicopter moms screaming "Think uff da Childrn" at? I'm sure America is now at over 90% in favor of medicinal cannabis legislation at this time, with perhaps just over half in favor of outright legalization (primarily to end the Drug War or stop "Spice" alternatives, or allow hemp to become a major crop for foods, oil, bio-diesel, clothing, and plastics). And shutting down the prison industrial machine that makes the freedom-loving USA the most non-violent, per-capita jailers in the world (along with reducing billions from DEA budgets). Also stopping unconsitiutional asset forfeitures running into the hundreds of billions! It becomes harder every year for the politicans to hide behind the lies of the few with money and power, especially when the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has Patent #663-0507 issued to the US Government on 10/7/2003 regarding the medicinal benefits of "Cannabinoids" in helping with so many health concerns! End the Drug War, just like Portugal and end these lies NOW!
yeah its sad kid (adults) are smoking these chemicals they have no idea about. No wonder there were so many in the hospital since no agency (good or bad) can regulate this trash and at least ensure that it wont kill you.
yeah its sad kids (adults) are smoking these chemicals they have no idea what the active ingredient is. No wonder so many ended up in the hospital since no agency (good or bad) has a right to at least ensure people that it wont kill them.
And how many trips to the ER do you get from real Marijuana, probably 2, and those were from guys who got lost and thought it was Micky D's.
Get this crap off the shelves and legalize it across the country.
When people get really stoned, they panic, they think they can't breath, they think they're having heart attacks, whatever. And all this is exacerbated by the fact it's an unfamiliar substance. Some people will get the same problems from marijuana, but since it's only pot, and it's illegal, they don't go to the ER. Give these fools a shot of diazepam and send them on their way.
Interesting stat on synth pot. How about compared to alcohol? Hmmm...
Either legalize marijuana or make alcohol illegal. There is no reason that alcohol should be legal and marijuana be illegal.
God knows this. Why can't we figure this out?
Alcohol is the real drug problem.
It doesn't help when our government is LEGALIZING the @!$%# pretty much telling every young kid out their it is OK. This is one of the reasons why legalizing POT is bad.
Hardy they TRIED to outlaw Alcohol, it was called prohibition, read your history books it didn't pan out very well.
Of course, I know about prohibition. I'm just saying, Domewars, that if we are so stupid and not realize that marijuana is harmless compared to alcohol. Alcohol is the worst drug ever created by man. Yet, it is legal. Meanwhile, marijuana is illegal. Why, when alcohol is worse? It makes no sense. No sense.
So, to avoid drug tests for marijuana (not alcohol), people will continue to use sythentic marijuana.
Yes, WE the GOVERNMENT, is to blame.
Dome, they don't call it "rotgut" for no reason.
I am the founder of SYNTHETICHIGH.ORG
My site is for anyone wanting to find understanding of what synthetic pot/drugs are and their symptoms, how there used, treatment, and Support. Having been a user/addict for almost 2 years myself, I found no place to help me get better. Thanks to the support of my wife I have a vision to turn something so bad into something so good “Synthetic High”. We hope to offer online counseling, interactive chat/support and a place for people to share their experience and comment on others experiences. We welcome any ideas, or input you might have as to how we can best serve the cause to fight Synthetic High’s. SYNTHETICHIGH.ORG
I am the founder of SYNTHETICHIGH.ORG
My site is for anyone wanting to find understanding of what synthetic pot/drugs are and their symptoms, how there used, treatment, and Support. Having been a user/addict for almost 2 years myself, I found no place to help me get better. Thanks to the support of my wife I have a vision to turn something so bad into something so good “Synthetic High”. We hope to offer online counseling, interactive chat/support and a place for people to share their experience and comment on others experiences. We welcome any ideas, or input you might have as to how we can best serve the cause to fight Synthetic High’s. SYNTHETICHIGH.ORG