K2 Spice

K2 Spice

(Synthetic Cannabinoids)

By: Kayla Huntington

What is K2?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, synthetic cannabinoids (or K2 Spice) is numerous mind-altering chemicals sprayed on dry, shredded plant material, vaporized in order to achieve a high.

What are the Effects

of K2 Spice?

Isn't K2 marijuana?

K2 vs. Marijuana

Learning about K2 can be misleading! Synthetic Cannabinoids are sometimes known as "synthetic marijuana" or "fake weed".

Why do they mistake K2 for Marijuana?

• Few studies have been done on synthetic cannabinoids and their effects on the human brain.
• Researchers do know though that some of the chemicals found in K2 bond more strongly to cell receptors than marijuana.
• The chemicals found in K2 can vary from batch to batch, meaning each time you use the substance, your effects can be different

Synthetic cannabinoid users report some effects similar to using marijuana:

• elevated mood
• relaxation
• altered perception
• awareness of surrounding objects and conditions
• psychosis
• delusional or disordered thinking detached from reality

• K2 was originally marketed as a safer alternative for Marijuana!
• Both K2 and Marijuana act on the same brain cell receptors as delta-9-terahydrocannabinol, which is the mind altering ingredient found in Marijuana.

Symptoms of Taking K2

Behavioral Symptoms

Emergency Room K2 Symptoms

• Poor academic performance
• Impaired occupational functioning
• Engaging in risky behavior
• Slowed speech
• Catatonic behavior
• Increased energy
• Lack of energy
• Aggressive outbursts

Physical Symptoms

• Muscle spasms
• Profuse sweating
• Headaches
• Higher body temperature
• Rapid heartbeat
• Chest pains
• Panic attacks
• Blood pressure changes
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Numbness in arms and/or legs

Cognitive Symptoms

• Rapid heart rate
• Vomiting
• Violent behavior
• Suicidal thoughts
• Raise blood pressure
• Seizures
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Suddenly collapsing
• Falling into a coma

• Disorientation
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Impaired memory
• Paranoia
• Out of body feeling

Why is K2 Spice a issue?

K2 vs. the Law

Treatments?

• K2 first became available in the US in 2008, yet it wasn't until 2012 when a federal ban was put into effect. (Before the ban, these synthetic cannabinoid products were labeled as not for human consumption)

• Many people who use K2 lose their lives because of the sudden onset health issues brought on by the drug.
• Due to this, it is very hard to seek treatment for someone you believe is using K2.

Unknown Consequences

• Although K2 is marked as a more organic substitution rather than inhaling marijuana, we don't really know what is in each packaged K2 product.
• They seem to include a mixture of psychoactive herbs and aromatic extracts sprayed with synthetic cannabinoid products.
• Just like Δ9-THC, the synthetic compounds are more potent agonists, which leads to a greater toxicity.
• Long term effects of inhaling K2 on brain functioning and behavior is still unknown

Causes for K2 Use

Statistics on K2

• Many professionals in the mental health field believe there are numerous risk factors in which can lead a person to use/abuse drugs.
• Genetics: Addiction can be heritable! Those with family history of substance use/abuse, or addiction have a greater susceptibility to also abuse substances.
• Physical: Because K2 is similar to Marijuana, people use it due to the very similar effects. Memory, coordination, concentration, and sensory perception impairments is effected, meaning there is damage to normal and healthy brain functioning.
• Environmental: Exposure to chronic stress, abuse, trauma, neglect, substance use, and peer pressure can lead to more experimentation with drugs

• In 2012, 11% of high school seniors in America were using K2 Spice.
• 11,406 ER visits in 2010 were K2 Spice-related.
• 75% of these were people aged 12-29
• 22.5% Female; 77.5% Male

• The sale of K2 is illegal in NYC, yet it is legal to smoke and use it.
• In 2014, one Texas dealer was linked to over 150 K2 overdoses in Austin and Dallas alone.
• In 2013, the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology published a report stating that K2 is linked to acute kidney disorder and psychosis
• By the end of June 2016, close to 1,700 cases were related to K2, as reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers
• In the beginning quarter of 2012, poison control centers said they have recieved over 2,000 calls related to K2. This averages to 18 calls per day.

Co-Occuring Disorders

Risk Factors of K2 use

Substance abuse users frequently suffer from mental illness along with dealing with their addictions. Here are a few examples:

• Being male
• Being of younger age
• Pre-existing mental health condition(s)
• Family history of substance abuse/mental health concerns
• Personal history of substance use/abuse
• Lack of parental involvement
• Easy access to K2
• Pressure from peers to use K2
• Exposure to crime/violence

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Bipolar disorders
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Schizophrenia

Thank You!

Closing Statement

K2 is a slowly rising problem in the country. Due to the unknown chemicals in each strand of K2, each effect is different, leading to a higher possibility of overdose and/or death. There needs to be more of a focus on how to prevent K2 from being sold.

Sources

• https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/synthetic-marijuana-lands-thousands-young-people-in-er-especially-young-males
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/trends-statistics/monitoring-future/monitoring-future-study-trends-in-prevalence-various-drugs
• https://www.confirmbiosciences.com/knowledge/blog/industry-news-increasing-problem-k2-abuse/
• http://www.rollinghillshospital.com/addiction/synthetic-marijuana/symptoms-causes
• Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior (16th Edition), 2015, Carl L. Hart and Charles Ksir