Synthetic Drugs

What are Synthetic Drugs?

"Any substance that aims to mimic the effects of illegal chemicals and may contain stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic properties." 

- National Institute on Drug Abuse

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More About Synthetic Drugs

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America

National Institute on Drug Abuse 

Drug Enforcement Administration

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Synthetic Drug Trends

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Street Names: Spice, K2, Spice Gold, Spice Silver, Spice Diamond, Genie, Yucatan Fire, Bliss, Black Mamba, Bombay Blue, Fake Weed, Zohai, Red Magic. 

Looks Like: Dried leaves, potpourri.

How It's Used/Abused: Smoked in joints or pipes, made into tea or put in food. 

What Teens Have Heard: "It's 'Fake Weed' and it's legal, won't show up in a drug test. "

Short and Long Term Effects: Elevates heart rate & blood pressure, paranoia, panic attacks, giddiness. 

Arizona Teen Facts: There have been documented reports of teens in Arizona being hospitalized after using Spice.

Every Parent Should Know: Although Spice/K2 is illegal it is still being sold online and in head shops marked "not for human consumption." Tests show that even the same brand of product may have different drugs, in different amounts, at different times. There's no way to know the dosage.

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Synthetic Cathinones

Street Names: Bath Salts, Flakka, Cloud Nine, Ivory Wave, Blue Silk, Vanilla Sky, Energy 1, Plant Fertilizer, Plant Food, Insect Repellent

Looks Like: A powdery substance typically labeled "not for human consumption." 

How It's Used/Abused: Snorted, smoked, injected or ingested.

Short and Long Term Effects: High anxiety and paranoia, rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure, intense/prolonged panic attacks, hallucinations and violent behavior, psychosis induced by sleep deprivation. 

Arizona Teen Facts: There have been documented reports of teens in Arizona being hospitalized after using bath salts. 

Every Parent Should Know: "Bath Salts" are illegal. Information concerning side effects is limited and long term effects are not known

**Check out our 411 Drug Series to find out more about Flakka.**

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Synthetic Hallucinogens

Street Names: 2C-I, N-Bomb, Smiles 

Looks Like: Liquid, pills, powder 

How It's Used/Abused: Snorted, orally in tablet/capsule, nose drops, injected. Users often mix the powder form with a stabilizing substance, such as chocolate or candy, before ingesting. 

What Teens Have Heard: Similar to LSD or mescaline.

Dangerous Because: The drug can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as terrifying hallucinations and feelings of panic and fear. As the drug takes time to take effect, users may take more to reach the desired effect at a faster pace, leading to overdose. 

Short and Long Term Effects:  The effects of Smiles are similar to that of a combination of Ecstasy and LSD. Staying true to the name Smiles, the drug makes the user experience extreme giddiness and a heightened level of energy. As these effects wear off, it is common for users to have feelings of nausea and muscle tension. Agitation, hallucinations, fever and seizures have also been reported. 

What Every Parent Should Know: It is illegal to manufacture, buy, sell or possess the drug. A 19 year-old West Valley teen was in a medically-induced coma for four days after taking the drug. Two teen deaths in North Dakota have been linked to "Smiles."