2. What is KD?
KD is the street name for a variety of drugs that all contain
one common ingredient: bug spray.
According to IndyStar, KD can come in the form of
marijuana, spice, tobacco, or even banana leaves laced with
a dose of bug spray — typically something harsh, like Raid.
When smoked, it produces a 45-minute "zombie-like high."
The dangerous mixtures can be bought in bags for $20
each, Indystar reports. According to RTV6, some people are
adding the bug spray to other substances themselves.
3. How Does KD Get People High?
Bug sprays often have high concentrations of
pyrethroids, a pesticide that is meant to knock out or
kill bugs like roaches. According to a 2014 study by
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, "Animal
studies of pyrethroid toxicity have shown
hyperglycemia and elevated plasma levels of
noradrenaline and adrenaline" — meaning the drug
will give users one big adrenaline rush before having a
rapid comedown. This quick high can make it highly
addictive.
4. Pyrethroids
A pyrethroid is an organic compound similar to the natural
pyrethrins produced by the flowers of pyrethrums(Chrysanthemum
cinerariaefolium and C. coccineum). Pyrethroids constitute the
majority of commercial household insecticides. In the concentrations
used in such products, they may also have insect repellent properties
and are generally harmless to humans.
5. Pyrethroids are axonic excitotoxins, the toxic effects of which are mediated
through preventing the closure of the voltage-gated sodium channels in the
axonal membranes. The sodium channel is a membrane protein with a
hydrophilic interior. This interior is a tiny hole which is shaped precisely to
strip away the partially charged water molecules from a sodium ion and
create a favorable way for sodium ions to pass through the membrane,
enter the axon, and propagate an action potential. When the toxin keeps
the channels in their open state, the nerves cannot repolarize, leaving the
axonal membrane permanently depolarized, thereby paralyzing the
organism.
6. How Else is Bug Spray Abused?
Indianapolis isn’t the first city to see an issue with
bug spray abuse. According to News Mississippi, in
2017, a trend started to spread through the state
of injecting bug spray in what was commonly
referred to as "hotshots."
7. Although the active ingredient in most household bug sprays (pyrethroids) has
been shown safe in small exposures, Daniel Rusyniak, medical director of the
Indiana Poison Center, says ingesting this stuff in high concentrations can cause
respiratory failure and brain overload. "It’s why we use it on bugs," he
explained, "because it overstimulates the bug, they have the equivalent of
seizures and die."
But SC Johnson, the Wisconsin-based company that manufactures Raid and
other pest control products, claims the reports surrounding their bug spray are
“completely inaccurate.” It disputes that smoking marijuana or any other
substance laced with their bug killers will produce the zombie effects reported
by the media.
SC Johnson claims the reports surrounding
their bug spray are “completely inaccurate.”
8. “We’ve seen an increasing number of media reports about drug users
intentionally misusing pest products such as Raid and OFF!, made by SC
Johnson, to achieve a catatonic state for up to 45-minut Such reports are
completely inaccurate,” Kelly M. Semrau, the company’s Senior Vice President
Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, told Forbes in an
emailed statement.
“According to our scientific experts, exposure to the active ingredients in these
products would not cause the reported effects,” she added. “Global authorities,
including the WHO and the EPA for many decades have studied these active
ingredients and they have not reported ill effects like this. Additionally, even if
these active ingredients were intentionally overused, these types of symptoms
would not be associated with them, nor would the state last for 45 minutes.”
9. In addition, SC Johnson says their pest products do
not cause the same effects on humans as they do in
bugs. “Our products are safe when used as directed,”
Semrau said.
10. Classes of pyrethroids
Allethrin, the first pyrethroid synthesized
Bifenthrin, active ingredient of Talstar, Capture, Ortho Home Defense Max,
and Bifenthrine
Cyfluthrin, an active ingredient in Baygon, dichlorovinyl derivative of pyrethrin
Cypermethrin, including the resolved isomer alpha-cypermethrin, dichlorovinyl
derivative of pyrethrin
Cyphenothrin, active ingredient of K2000 Insect spray sold in Israel and
the Palestinian territories
Deltamethrin, dibromovinyl derivative of pyrethrin
Esfenvalerate
Etofenprox
Fenpropathrin
Fenvalerate
12. For a list of products containing
pyrethroids, visit the EPA
website.
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Donald W. Reid
mail@reid-security.com