The synthetic drug – K2 (www.spiceaddictionsupport.org)
More than a year ago, reports began to surface nationally that synthetic – marijuana known on the streets as Spice, Scooby Snax, Bizzaro, or K2 – had caused an upswing in violent reactions, emergency room visits, and deaths. Toxicologists noted then that the synthetic cannabinoids could contain as many as a dozen chemical compounds, many manufactured in makeshift foreign laboratories.
Recently, two newer forms of spice, XLR-11 and UR-144, were found to have a potency far greater than the others – which are believed to be responsible for the volatile difference in reactions.
Reactions to K2 have run from violent convulsions that lasted for up to three months after smoking, to psychotic episodes of paranoia, increased anxiety and hallucinations, and uncontrollable body movements. K2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can also cause kidney damage.
In the Washington metropolitan area, psychotic reactions and deaths attributed to K2 reached critical proportions recently, causing Mayor Muriel Bowser to sign the “Sale of Synthetic Drugs Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” into law. The law allows the Metropolitan Police Department to shut down a first-offender for up to 96 hours, and levies a $10,000 fine the first violation. The department is also authorized to shut down repeat offenders for up to 30 days, with a $20,000 fine, while the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will move to permanently revoke its business license.
“I thank the Council for their swift action and residents from all eight wards for strongly supporting this legislation to crack down on the sale of these drugs,” Bowser said. Mayor Bowser and city officials said they are hoping to see a drop in synthetic drug overdoses now that the legislation has been signed into law.
Previously touted as a natural or safe alternative to marijuana that was legal and easily accessible at corner, liquor, and fuel stores, synthetic marijuana has proven to be dangerous – impacting thousands of teens and young (mostly) males. “Synthetic cannabinoids are tailor-made to hit cannabinoid receptors – and hit it hard. This is not marijuana,” said Jeff Lapoint, a New York-based emergency room doctor and medical toxicologist. “Its action in the brain may be similar but the physical effect is so different.”
While its prevalence among young Black males has previously been attributed to easy access and a culture of cheap fun, health professionals continue to research if and how these drugs interact differently based on demographics. “We are working with District of Columbia hospitals to better understand the demographics of synthetic drug usage so that we can target resources to reduce the negative impact of these drugs on our community,” said Department of Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt.
The D.C. Department of Behavioral Health’s Addiction Prevention & Recovery Administration also launched a comprehensive social marketing campaign, K2 Zombie DC, more than two years ago, to combat the popularity of the drugs and what they term the “Zombie Effect” of exposure to it. Designed to inform young people of its dangers, K2 Zombie DC also supports those ending addictions to the substances by providing counseling resources.
Testimonials on the effects of K2 provided by K2 Zombie DC include two teen sisters, one of whom had a particularly bad reaction to the drug. “We were smoking it in her room and she leaned over and fell. Then, she got up and went on a straight rampage, destroying everything, knocking down anything in her path. Trying to calm her down was a task . . . It was the scariest, craziest night ever,” the sister wrote. “We didn’t know who she was.”
Designed to inform young people of its dangers, K2 Zombie DC also supports those ending addictions to the substances by providing counseling resources. For additional information, visit the website at k2zombiedc.com