Contemporary
Drug Trends –
Salvia, Spice, Bath Salts,
and more…
Sgt. Craig Simpson
Colorado Springs PD
Some common “uncommon”
drugs
Salvia Divinorum
K-2 / Spice
“Bath Salts”
Salvia Divinorum
Salvia Divinorum
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A powerful (and, in many states, legal)
hallucinogenic herb
Referred to most commonly as “Salvia”,
although terms “Magic Mint”, and
“Diviner’s Sage” are used as well
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There are many different species and
varieties within the Salvia genus
The “Divinorum” variety is not found in
garden stores, but other varieties of Salvia
are
Plant is related to Sage and Mint
Quick Facts
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Active ingredient is Salvinorin-A which is a
powerful hallucinogen
“As potent as LSD, and essentially, the
most potent naturally occurring
hallucinogenic drug” Dr. Bryan Roth, Director National Institute
of Mental Health’s Psychoactive Drug Screening Program
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Used recreationally since early 1990’s
Use
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For recreational users, the dried leaves of
the plant are generally smoked
Fresh leaves may be chewed
Dried leaves may be reconstituted and
chewed
Extracts
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A concentrated preparation of the leaf,
called Salvia extract, is often used in place
of natural strength leaves
Extract is classified as 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x,
etc.
Extract reduces the total amount needed
to produce results and the results are
often more powerful
Effects of Salvia
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The effects seem to span a large spectrum
and may be somewhat dependant on
amount ingested, method of ingestion,
and individual body chemistry
Range seems to go from a pleasant,
dreamlike experience to a very frightening
and confusing experience
Low Dose
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Spontaneous
Laughter
Mild closed-eye
visuals
Stuttering or strobing
visual effects
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Changes in depth
perception
Heightened senses of
color and texture
Moderate Dose
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Trance-like state
Time distortion
Open-eye visuals
Fractal patterns and
geometric shapes
with eyes open
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Sensations of falling
Fully formed visions
of other places,
people, and events
High Dose
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Out of body
experiences
Dimensional
Distortion
Intense exhilaration
or panic
Sensation of wind or
physical pressure
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Hearing voices
Significant open and
closed eye visuals
Experiencing alternate
realities
Dissociation
Loss of speech
Merging with objects
High Dose
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Users have reported feeling as if they
have lived a lifetime as another person or
as an inanimate object (experiencing a
lifetime as paint on a wall for example)
This is may be due to the significant time
distortion that the drug causes
Salvia divinorum Duration
Smoked
Total Duration
20 - 45 mins
Onset
20 - 60 secs
Coming Up
1 - 2 mins
Plateau
5 - 10 mins
Coming Down
15 - 30 mins
After Effects
15 - 20 mins
Hangover / Day After
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Marketing
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Often marketed to teens and young adults
as producing a marijuana-like high
Also sold as a “Legal Cannabis Substitute”
In reality, not similar to marijuana at all
Not really even a “Party Drug”
Legality
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Colorado has a current law prohibiting
manufacture and sale (July 1, 2011) –
possession and use illegal Jan 1, 2012
Federal Govt. is studying the plant for
scheduling
U.S. Military has made it illegal
Is able to be tested for in UA
Driving on Salvia
Synthetic Cannabinoids
Spice??
Spice
Spice
K 2 / Spice – real or hype?
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Very Real – Spice is a synthetic
cannabinoid that acts very similarly to THC
Binds to the same receptor sites as
cannabis
May be anywhere from 3x – 800x the
potency of THC
Federal Legality
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The Federal Analog Act defines an analog
as: a chemical that is structurally or
pharmacologically similar to a Schedule I
or II controlled substance and has no
legitimate medical use. A substance which
meets (this)definition…and is intended for
human consumption is treated…as if it
were a controlled substance in Schedule I.
So how has it been legal?
Origins
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1995 – Dr. John Hoffman, professor of
Organic Chemistry at Clemson University
Conducting research on effects of
cannabinoids on the brain
Developed synthetic cannabinoid
(JWH-018) for use in the research
Published paper contained info on the
chemical used
Progression
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Enterprising individuals replicated the
compound JWH-018 and began spraying it
on dried flowers, herbs, and tobacco
JWH-018 is now the most common
synthetic cannabinoid found in Spice
blends
Progression
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Spice begins sales around 2006
Other unique, well designed synthetics
have spun off of the original design
Others include JWH-73, CP-47,497 and
HU-210 (there are literally hundreds more)
Spice Ingredients - Label
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Baybean, Blue Lotus, Lion's Tail, Lousewort,
Mugwort, Indian Warrior, Dwarf Skullcap,
Maconha Brava, Sassafrass, Pink Lotus,
Marshmallow, Red Clover, Nutmeg, Rose,
Siberian Motherwort, Damiana, Canavalia
Maritime, Leonotis Leonurus, Leonurus Sibiricus,
Passion Flower, Vanilla Planifolia, Zorinia
Latifolia, Magnolia Officinalis, Sage, Rosa Gallica,
Trifolium
Spice Ingredients - Actual
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May contain none, some, most, or all of
the listed ingredients
Will also contain a synthetic or
combination of synthetics sprayed onto
the mixture
Physical Properties
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Looks like mixture of plant matter
Little to no chemical smell – any odor
would be due to dried plants (potpourri
smell)
Effects of the Drug
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Users report experiences similar to
cannabis with possibility of hallucinations
In mice it has lead to lower body temp,
partial paralysis, and temporary inability to
feel pain
May also cause seizures, anxiety,
agitation, and dangerously increased
blood pressure and heart rates
Effects
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Little known regarding detailed
pharmacology and toxicology
Few formal, human studies published
Potential for longer than normal
psychoactive effects due to longer halflives of chemicals and full binding at
receptor site vs partial binding of THC
Variability
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The variability of substances present from
batch to batch helps to make it virtually
impossible to test for
No “standard” substances and amounts
Testing
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There are a few labs that can test for a
few of the synthetics
Makes this appealing to probationers,
military, people in treatment facilities –
anyone needing a clean UA
Getting it
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Typically Spice is sold over the internet
and in “head shops”.
May also be found at convenience stores,
truck stops, and smoke shops
Pricing
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Usually $20 - $60 (1 – 3 grams)
Due to potency, can last awhile
Hookah?
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Encounters from customers at Hookah
bars suggest K 2 / Spice and/or Salvia are
being smoked at Hookah bars
Widespread use
Current Legality
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26 of the synthetic cannabinoids placed in
DEA Schedule I
As of July 1, Colorado has made
manufacture and sale illegal. Jan 1, 2012
possession and use are illegal
US Military has banned possession, use
Banned in Chile, France, Germany, S.
Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and others
Manufacturers Response
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Within weeks of state bans, new varieties
of the drug which skirt the legal issues are
on the market
K2 Sex Incense. In Compliance
with Kansas Laws. Available in 3, 10, 50
gram packages
The High
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1/10 gram put into a bong (usually)
3-6 hits
Quick onset
Feels like MJ, but user may experience
hallucinations
6 – 8 hour high, some feel effect for 24
hrs
Addiction / Withdrawal
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There are numerous reports of addiction
to Spice
Also reports of withdrawal and OD deaths
from it
Withdrawal symptoms include: night
sweats, internal unrest, tremors,
palpitations, insomnia, headaches,
diarrhea, nausea, and vomitting
Synthetic Stimulants
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“Bath Salts”
Believed to be synthesized from Cathinone
Chemicals are Mephedrone and/or MDPV
On par with cocaine
May also be marketed as insect repellant
or stain removers
Bath Salts
Bath Salt Reports
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Users relate experiences similar to cocaine
and methamphetamine
Some state that the experience is better
than cocaine
May be snorted,
injected, or smoked
Effects on the body
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As with Spice, not much known regarding
long term effects since the drug is
relatively new
Always possibility of addiction
Use may cause hyperthermia, increased
heart rate and blood pressure, paranoia,
agitation, dizziness, vomiting, coma, and
death
“Smiles”
(disclaimer necessary)
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2C-I or possibly 25I-NBOMe (2C-I-NBOMe)
Effects seem to combine MDMA with LSD
Some stimulant effects with intense,
prolonged hallucinations
Unable to be tested for with standard
testing procedures
2C-I Schedule I
2C-I-Nbome not scheduled
2C-I or “Smiles”
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Due to lack of testing, OD may be
overlooked in ER’s
Known to cause seizures, muscular
rigidity, increase temperature, kidney
failure, and fatally high blood pressure
Not uncommon for OD’s to result in death
2C-I or “Smiles”
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Comes in powder, liquid, and pill
Ingested orally, sublingually, insufflated
Relatively easy to make
May be cooked into edibles
Potentially active at sub-milligram doses
New sister drugs already being seen –
25b-Nbome
Outlook
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Synthetic variants of known drugs are
becoming a rapidly growing trend
Synthetics have the potential to be more
potent than the parent thereby increasing
appeal
May cause greater changes to brain
chemistry and lead to higher incidents of
psychological disorders
On the horizon?
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Krokodil (Crocodile)
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Very cheap heroin substitute
Used extensively in Russia
“How to make it” guides on the internet
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What is it?
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Krokodil
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Mixture of Codeine, gasoline, paint
thinner, iodine, hydrochloric acid and red
phosphorus
After cooking, users inject the substance
intravenously
Name comes from the green, scaly
appearance that users skin takes on
Effects / Consequences
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Effects very similar to heroin but high is
shorter lived
Use causes skin to literally rot away
Life expectancy of an addict is 1 yr or less
Rehab possible but longer and tougher
than rehab from heroin
Krokodil in the U.S.
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As of now, no known cases of use in the
U.S.
It is possible that we will see it – cheaper
and possibly easier to get than heroin
One to watch for
* Disclaimer *
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The following pictures / videos are very
graphic. Please do not feel that you have
to view them if you are uncomfortable
with graphic, gross, and generally icky
stuff.
Contact Info
Sgt. Craig Simpson
Colorado Springs Police Dept
craigsimpson5@gmail.com
Sources
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www.erowid.com
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/syntheticcannabinoids
http://www.k2-incense.com/buyktwo/international.php
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35444158
http://www.livescience.com/health/fake-marijuana-k2hallucinations-100303.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-24-k2_N.htm
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/jul/02/health-boardoks-emergency-ban-k2/
http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1649977.html
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100721/NEWS/721036
6/Pharmacy-board-bans-K2-synthetic-marijuana
Colorado Springs Independent – July 22-28, 2010 “Incense
Nonsense”