August 23, 2012
Key Concepts:
 What are these designer drugs?
 What can happen to people who take them?
 What strategies can coalitions use to prevent their use?
 What should law enforcement know when approaching someone who may
be using designer drugs?
Designer Drugs:

Drugs created or marketed to get around existing drug laws
 Most marked “Not for human consumption”

Happens by preparing analogs or derivatives of existing drugs by modifying their chemical structure to varying degrees.
The concern about these drugs are that the use of them are skyrocketing. For example, calls to Poison Centers about Synthetic Cannabinoids

In all of 2010 there were 2,915 calls

2011 through October 31 there were 5,741 calls
Calls to Poison Centers about Bath Salts

In all of 2010 there were 303 calls

2011 through October 31 there were 5,625 calls
Synthetic Cannabinoids
 Collection of “herbs” and “spices” sold as incense

Sprayed with synthetic compound similar to THC

Manufactured in foreign countries, such as China and Korea
 Also called “Spice”, “K2”, “Genie”, “Yucatan Fire”, “Sence”, “Smoke”, “Skunk”,
“Zohai”
Problems with Designer Drugs

Marketed to teens and young adults

Easily attainable via internet

Unknown ingredient(s)

No consistency in manufacturing process
Synthetic Cannabiniods

$30-$40 per 3gm packet


High variability between products even with the same labels

Constituents and components change within product label & batch to batc
Health Affects - Synthetic Cannabinoids

Vomitting

Intensive hallicunations

Tachycardia

Increased blood pressure

Seizures

Loss of consciousness

Paranoid behavior

Agitation

Anxiety

Psychoactive substances

State health and poison control warnings

Abuse connected to dependence, withdrawal, and physchosis
Public Safety Concerns

DUIDs with fatalities

Suicides

Homicide-Suicide

Overdoses

Drugs abused to evade drug screens

Transition to new synthetic cannabinoids
Legal Status Synthetic Cannabinoids

DEA emergency scheduled - March 1, 2011

Chemicals banned - JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47, 497, cannibidcyclohexanol

Possessing or selling these chemicals or products that contain them is illegal
Legal Status - Bath Salts

DEA emergency scheduled - October 21, 2011

3 stimulants banned, mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and methylone

Possession and selling these chemicals or products that contain them is illegal
Products Marketed as

Bath Salts

Plant Foods

Research chemicals

Toy cleaner

Jewelry cleaner

Glass cleaner
Bath Salt Users

Median age is 35


54% Men

69% self reported history of drug use

31% history of polysubstance use

34% historically IV drug abusers

63% injected

26% intranasal use (snort)

11% smoked
Possible Bath Salt Effects

Anxiety

Fits and Delusions

Nosebleeds

Hallucinations & Paranoi

Increased Heart Rate

Agitation

Diminished requirements for sleep

Lack of appetite

Increased alertness and awareness
Possible Stages of Bath Salt High
1. Stimulant Effect
2. Paranoid delusions - crisis stage
3. Excited deliriums - critical (toxic) stage
4. Effects begin 20 seconds - 15 minutes after use
Bath Salts High
 “Euphoric” effect can last 20 minutes to over 3 hours

Impairment remains long after the euphoria is gone

Increases dopamine and serotonin levels

Heightens senses and increases sexual arousal
Health Effects - Synthetic Cannabinoids

Psychoactive substances

State Health and poison control warnings

Abuse connected to dependence, withdrawal, and psychosis
Other Designer Drugs

Bromo Dragonfly Mollies

Benzo Fury

6-ABP
Problems with Designer Drugs

Marketed to teens and young adults

Easily attainable via internet

Unknown ingredient(s)


No consistency in manufacturing process

Not tested or approved for human consumption

No known dosage

Synergistic effects likely when mixed with other drugs or alcohol

Do not always show up on drug screening tests
Bath Salts Street Names
Artic Blast
Bayou Ivory
Bloom
Blow
Blue Magic
Blue Silk
Bonsai
Cosmic Blas
Cotton Cloud
Dynamite
Dynamite Plus
Eight Ballz
Energizing
Aromatherapy Powder
Energy 1
Lady Bubbles
Lovey Dovey
Lunar Wave
Lust
MCAT
Meow Meow
Monkey Dust
Mr. Nice Guy
Snow Day
Snow Leopard
Snow White
Tranquility
Vanilla Sky
White China
White Dove
White Girls
Bonsai Winter Boost
Bubbles
C Original
Cloud 10
Cloud 9
Copycat
Cocaine
Euphoria
Explosion
Fake Cocaine
Gold Rush
Hurricane Charlie
Ivory Fresh
Ivory Wave
Jewelry Cleaner
Ocean Snow
Plant Food
Pure White
Purple Rain
Rave On
Recharge
Route 69
Scarface
White Horse
White Knight
White Lightning
White Rush
White Widow
Wicked X
Wicked XX
Zoom

Content Providers:
Gary Boggs , Special Agent, Executive Assistant, Office of Diversion Control, U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration
Gary Boggs began his law enforcement career with the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Orlando,
Florida in 1977, where he was assigned to the Patrol Division and to the Street Drug Unit. In 2006, Boggs was promoted to his current position as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Diversion Control. As the Executive Assistant, he coordinates day-to-day operations of the
Diversion Control Program; develops policy and budget proposals; provides briefings to members of
Congress; and conducts liaison with industry.
Aaron Byzak , President, North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC), Vista, California
Aaron Byzak has served as President of the North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC), since 2008 and has been on its board since 2003. In 2010, NCPC was recognized by the National Association of State
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) with the 2010 National Exemplary Award for Innovative
Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Practices and Policies.
Mark Ryan, Pharm.D
, Director, Louisiana Poison Center
Dr. Mark Ryan is the Director of the Louisiana Poison Center, where he assists in the medical management of poisoned or overdosed patients and provides poison prevention and awareness education to help reduce the incidence of accidental poisonings.
Links from the Designer Drugs: The New Frontier:
American Association of Poison Control Centers - http://www.aapcc.org
North Coastal Prevention Coalition - http://northcoastalpreventioncoalition.org/
Synthetic Drug Guide for Parents - http://www.drugfree.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/02/Parents360-Synthetics-Bath-Salts-K2-Spice-Parents-Guide-FINAL-
2-13-12.pdf
K2 Drug Facts - http://www.k2drugfacts.com/
NIDA Infofacts: Spice - http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/spice-syntheticmarijuana
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - http://www.justice.gov/dea/

NOTES FROM SYNTHETIC SUMMIT on August 9, 2012 at Brighton Center for
Recovery
Mental Health Perspective - Karen Bergbower, LMSW, CAADC, CPC-M
What are Synthetic Drugs : They are man-made chemicals marketed to mirror active ingredient drugs like THC, amphetamines, etc. and the packets they are sold in are labeled “not for human consumption”. Cost to buy them are anywhere from $10-$80 a gram.
Bath Salts

Affect the Central Nervous System (CNS)
It is a stimulant that increases heart rate

Bath salts come in a powder substance.
 It’s been compared to a person taking Ritalin times 3 or 4 - in other words it’s an intense high.
K2

Professionals are not sure how K2 affects the Central Nervous System, the effects of ingesting K2 are all over the spectrum of symptoms.

Was originally not detected in urine drug screens, but because of the increase in use manufacturers are now making drug screens that will detect it.

K2 is not the same as marijuana.

The mar keting of K2 makes it look “innocent” and “safe”.
 Locally, K2 called “LOL” has been bought and used the most.

Some places that sell it uses punch cards when bought (ex: get 10 punches on a card, and the 11 th purchase is free)

A problem with K2 is that a person does not know what’s in it or what’s been sprayed on it. Even in one shipment of K2 there is a variation of potency, so you may get different highs from the same shipment.
The drugs are coming into the US from China and India.
Because Bath Salts a nd K2 are relatively “new” drugs, the long term effects are not known. Therapists are seeing physical, psychological, and mental effects from taking these drugs.
Emotional and psychological impact includes psychotic episodes. Clients are not responding to normal psychological treatment. Therapists are seeing extreme mood swings, aggression, and erratic behavior from clients.
Karen Bergbower, LMSW believe these drugs are addictive because clients have responded that they can’t remember what they did while they were high after taking the drugs, but the only thing they can focus on (after they come down) is when they can do the drug again.

NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) stated that 1 in 9 (11%) of seniors in high school admit to trying cannaboids (K2).
Legislative efforts - Presented by Jon Gonzalez, Office of Legislative Affairs
MI bills that deal with K2/Bath Salts - Senate Bill 1082 & 789; House Bill 5338 & 5714.
The legislative objectives were:

To place prohibitions on synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones

Figure out a way to prevent chemists from circumventing our statutes

Create a process to reduce the time needed for future prohibitions of new drugs
Previous Legislative Shortfalls:

Compounds were listed by name in the statute

For every prohibition, a structurally dissimilar compound was introduced to circumvent the statute
Overall:

The synthetic bill package of 2012 is a good start

There are limitations

Many other chemical gro0ups, aside from synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones exist.
Medical Perspective - Dr. Robert Dunne, ER Doctor, St. Johns

There is limited evidence based medicine on K2 & Bath Salts - in other words, they don’t know what or how to deal with it because it is relatively “new” drug.

Therefore, the ER personnel need to cast a wide net when trying to determine what is wrong with the person brought to the hospital. This usually entails asking the person (if they are lucid) what they did, or if they were brought in by another person ask them to go back to where they found the person and see if there are any drugs around.

Basically the ER had to call poison control and ask they what type of symptoms they are seeing.

60% of the cases involve people age 25 and younger

According to poison control, the average age of the person doing K2 or Bath
Salts is 20.

Many of the patients they see are suffering from hyperthermia (the body is extremely hot).
Options of what ER does when someone comes in after doing K2 or Bath Salt:

Decrease stimulation

Put person in a quiet environment


IV Access

Increase fluids, do lab work and monitor patient

Treat with sedatives (benzodiazepines)
Therapeutic Treatment Perspective - Elizabeth Reader, CCS, CADC, ICADC,
Milford Counseling

Milford Counseling has been exploring treatment options for K2/Bath Salts since
2009.

Synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones are very physiologically addicting.

Many reported the experience loss of control, one of the symptoms of addiction, immediately after use. The cycle of addiction gripped them quickly

They are utilizing age specific treatment

A major complication that they have seen is manifestation of severe mental health symptoms including psychosis.

They have seen a dramatic improvement and stabilization of mental health synptoms after 6 months of abstinence.