2. “Spice”
This word “spice” refers to a wide
variety of herbal mixtures that produce
experiences similar to marijuana and
that are marked as so called “safe” legal
alternatives.
It can be sold under many different
names:
◦ K2, fake weed, moon rocks, yucatan
fire, Bliss, Black Mamba, Bombay
Blue, Blaze, genie, Zohia, and skunk.
3. It can be found in head shops, gas stations, and via the
internet
First became available in 2008
Their packaging is labeled “not for human consumption”
Sold in small silvery plastic bags
The DEA has designated 5 active chemicals most
frequently found in spice as schedule I controlled
substances, making it illegal to sell, buy, or possess them.
Something that is a high selling point for this drug is that
it is not detected in a standard drug test.
Having the similar look to potpourri makes it easier to be
sold as “incense”.
This drug is abused mainly by smoking, it is sometimes
mixed with marijuana or infused and made into an herbal
drink.
It contains dried, shredded plant materials and chemical
additives that are responsible for the psychoactive (mind-
altering) side effects.
4. How Does it Affect the Brain?
What symptoms are there?
Some side affects from spice are:
◦ Elevated mood, relaxation, altered perception,
and in some cases can be stronger than
marijuana.
◦ Extreme anxiety, paranoia , hallucinations
◦ There are no scientific studies showing many
effects on the brain. But some of the
compounds in spice act on the same receptors
as THC and sometimes tend to bind more
strongly to those receptors and it could cause
dramatically different effects than the users are
aware of because the compounds are so
unknown.
5. People who have taken K-spice have been
taken to poison control centers due to the
unknown substance consumption.
Warning signs: rapid heart beat, vomiting,
agitation, confusion & hallucinations, raise
in blood pressure, reduce the blood supply
to the heart.
In few cases it can be associated with
heart attacks and seem as if they are
withdrawal and addiction symptoms.
6. The onset of the drug is about three to five minutes and the
duration of the high is from one to eight hours.
The short term affects:
◦ Loss of control, lack of pain response, increased agitation,
pale skin, sweating.
7. This drug is incredibly popular in high
school student and young adults.
It is very dangerous because the access
to this drug is very easy but young
adults do not always know the
substances they are consuming.
In 2012 emergency rooms tended to
more than 11,400 cases of drug related
complications, specifically linked to the
use of synthetic marijuana in 2010.
FACTS:
8. Discussion Question?
Why do you think that this drug is so
popular among young adult and high
school students? Why this drug more so
than others?
9. Video on K-Spice:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/
05/10/spice-k2-potpourri-
california_n_3254149.html
10. Work Cited:
K2 – Spice. (n.d.). The Partnership at Drugfreeorg. Retrieved
March 27, 2014, from http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/k2-
spice
K2/Spice ("Synthetic Marijuana"). (n.d.).National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA). Retrieved March 27, 2014, from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/k2spice-synthetic-
marijuana
Synthetic Drugs (a.k.a. K2, Spice, Bath Salts, etc.).
(n.d.). The White House. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-
sheets/synthetic-drugs-k2-spice-bath-salts
Synthetic Marijuana - Spice or K2. (n.d.).Synthetic Marijuana
(Cannabis) Spice / K2. Retrieved March 30, 2014, from
http://www.drugs.com/synthetic-marijuana.html
