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The Top 5 Things I Didn’t Know About Synthetic Drugs
Apr 25, 2014 12:36 PM
By Dana (Love) Cox - FF/S
Last week, Residential Dean Marcus Holmes and I attended the symposium “Synthetic Drugs – Real Consequences,” held at the World Congress Center and sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District. It was designed to educate those around our state who work with youth in various capacities about the real dangers of these drugs and arm us with resources. In attendance were youth leaders of religious organizations, educators from both private and public schools, policemen, and business leaders.
What we learned during our six hours was astounding.
#5. The effects of the synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones (LSD, heroin, etc.) are far worse on a mind/body than the actual drugs they are designed to mimic.
This is why some people report being “happy and hungry” after smoking marijuana, but some people have horrific, violent behaviors such as biting and/or eating animals, shooting a girlfriend, etc after smoking synthetic marijuana.
#4. Not all synthetic drugs are made equally.
You can purchase a package of synthetic marijuana and have nothing more than oregano in your pipe. HOWEVER, you can purchase another package and experience a “hotspot” – meaning the drug that was sprayed upon those oregano leaves was actually concentrated in the tiny patch you bought vs. the 10ft by 10ft panel it was designed to cover. Why would that happen? Because the person manufacturing your synthetic drug is most likely stoned himself. BOTTOM LINE: HOTSPOTS CAN KILL YOU immediately.
#3. E-Cig use may actually be a portal for synthetic cathinones without your knowledge!
Synthetic cathinones come in all kinds of crazy flavors (there is one called Cowboy – yes, Cowboy) and there is no way to know if that person next to you is using an e-cig properly or adding a liquefied synthetic cathinone to his or her tank. This was a HUGE eye-opener for me and Marcus.
#2. The State of Georgia is actually ahead of the game in terms of regulating and classifying these drugs as Schedule 1 drugs, which are prosecutable under current law.
Although the makers of designers drugs tweak one or two ingredients to stay one step ahead of State law (which activates faster than Federal law), our GBI Forensics Lab can typically identify a new or unknown designer drug within 48 hours for the purpose of then classifying that drug as a Schedule 1 drug.
#1. There is hope.
In the fall of 2010, we brought Mr. and Mrs. David Burnett to our campus to speak with our students about the life of their son, Chase, who died as a result of synthetic marijuana use. Out of this tragedy came Chase’s Law – the Georgia law that bans synthetic marijuana and keeps banning its derivatives. (Click here to read an article about their visit to Darlington.) The Burnetts were present at the symposium and, again, they shared their story. Every time they share and every time we as educators arm ourselves with resources and education, there is hope to save even more of our treasured youth.
Many thanks to the team that led this informative symposium. As members of your student life team at Darlington, we are working hard to keep your children safe on our campus.
What we learned during our six hours was astounding.
#5. The effects of the synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones (LSD, heroin, etc.) are far worse on a mind/body than the actual drugs they are designed to mimic.
This is why some people report being “happy and hungry” after smoking marijuana, but some people have horrific, violent behaviors such as biting and/or eating animals, shooting a girlfriend, etc after smoking synthetic marijuana.
#4. Not all synthetic drugs are made equally.
You can purchase a package of synthetic marijuana and have nothing more than oregano in your pipe. HOWEVER, you can purchase another package and experience a “hotspot” – meaning the drug that was sprayed upon those oregano leaves was actually concentrated in the tiny patch you bought vs. the 10ft by 10ft panel it was designed to cover. Why would that happen? Because the person manufacturing your synthetic drug is most likely stoned himself. BOTTOM LINE: HOTSPOTS CAN KILL YOU immediately.
#3. E-Cig use may actually be a portal for synthetic cathinones without your knowledge!
Synthetic cathinones come in all kinds of crazy flavors (there is one called Cowboy – yes, Cowboy) and there is no way to know if that person next to you is using an e-cig properly or adding a liquefied synthetic cathinone to his or her tank. This was a HUGE eye-opener for me and Marcus.
#2. The State of Georgia is actually ahead of the game in terms of regulating and classifying these drugs as Schedule 1 drugs, which are prosecutable under current law.
Although the makers of designers drugs tweak one or two ingredients to stay one step ahead of State law (which activates faster than Federal law), our GBI Forensics Lab can typically identify a new or unknown designer drug within 48 hours for the purpose of then classifying that drug as a Schedule 1 drug.
#1. There is hope.
In the fall of 2010, we brought Mr. and Mrs. David Burnett to our campus to speak with our students about the life of their son, Chase, who died as a result of synthetic marijuana use. Out of this tragedy came Chase’s Law – the Georgia law that bans synthetic marijuana and keeps banning its derivatives. (Click here to read an article about their visit to Darlington.) The Burnetts were present at the symposium and, again, they shared their story. Every time they share and every time we as educators arm ourselves with resources and education, there is hope to save even more of our treasured youth.
Many thanks to the team that led this informative symposium. As members of your student life team at Darlington, we are working hard to keep your children safe on our campus.
