Synthetic marijuana, often mislabeled as incense and marketed as safe, contains man-made chemicals that produce marijuana-like effects and is widely used among high school seniors in the U.S. Its usage leads to serious health risks, prompting efforts by authorities to educate and combat this growing issue. As a Schedule I controlled substance, synthetic marijuana poses significant dangers, resulting in overdoses and requiring comprehensive treatment options for addiction recovery.

1. SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA
BY: SHANICE MOODIE
High School Seniors

2. WHAT IS SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA?
Synthetic marijuana refers to the many herbal mixtures inaccurately
marketed as “safe” and legal, that produce marijuana-like effects. It is
often labeled “not for human consumption” and sold as “incense,” but
look more like potpourri. It may contain dried, shredded plant material
and chemicals that create the mind-altering effects. People buy it in
head shops, convenience stores, and on the Internet.

3. HISTORY AND OVERVIEW ON SYNTHETIC
MARIJUANA
Source: Narconon International
Huffman began his research on a class of chemicals found in marijuana, cannabinoids, in
1984. Over the course of 20 years – supported by generous grants from the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Huffman and his team developed more than 450 different
synthetic cannabinoids that could mimic the effects of natural marijuana.
Source: Times News
Dr. Richard Huffman created the mixture at Clemson University and retired years ago, but
some companies copied his synthetic marijuana compound and sprayed it onto potpourri
leaves, creating the synthetic marijuana that is now leading to drug abuse problems all
over the country.

4. HISTORY AND OVERVIEW CONTINUED
Source: Office of Natural Drug Control Policy
Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied (often sprayed) onto plant material
and marketed as a “legal” high. Users claim that synthetic cannabinoids mimic Δ9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive active ingredient in marijuana.
• Use of synthetic cannabinoids is alarmingly high, especially among young people. According to
the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends, one in nine 12th graders in
America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year. This rate, unchanged from 2011,
puts synthetic cannabinoids as the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school
seniors after marijuana (see chart).
• Synthetic cathinones are man-made chemicals related to amphetamines. Synthetic cathinone
products often consist of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and methylone.
• The Administration has been working with Federal, Congressional, state, local, and non-
governmental partners to put policies and legislation in place to combat this threat, and to educate
people about the tremendous health risk posed by these substance.
Since that time several of these synthesized compounds with varying names have been produced
with a wide range of potency and effects.

5. TRENDS OBSERVED IN THE USAGE OF
SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA
• According to the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, spice is the second most frequently used
illegal drug among high seniors after marijuana. The
National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that, in
2012, male high school seniors were twice as likely
as female students to use synthetic marijuana.
• Between January and June of 2014 alone, poison
centers throughout the United States reported
receiving nearly 800 cases of synthetic marijuana
exposures.
• Additionally, in March of 2014, over 100 people were
treated for synthetic marijuana overdoses over the
course of two weeks in Louisiana, and, over a 5-day
period in May of 2014, 120 people throughout the
state of Texas overdosed on the substance.

7. HOW DOES THE DRUG ENTER THE BODY?
Drugs enter the body by
use of:
Joints
Blunt
Pipe
Drinks
Vaporizers
Capsules
Edible
Bongs
Brownies (or space
cakes)
Smoking
Capsules
Weed Tea

8. HOW DOES THE DRUG
TRAVEL THROUGH THE
BODY?
Every time someone smokes a marijuana cigarette or
ingests marijuana in some other form, THC (delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinol) and other chemicals enter the
user's body.
• The chemicals make their way through the
bloodstream to the brain and then to the rest of the
body.
Hence, when a person inhales smoke from marijuana,
the THC goes directly to the lungs.
• Your lungs are lined with millions of alveoli, the tiny
air sacs where gas exchange occurs. These alveoli
have an enormous surface area, so they make it easy
for THC and other compounds to enter the body.
• The lungs then absorb the smoke just seconds after
inhalation.

9. HOW AND WHERE
IS THE DRUG
BROKEN DOWN IN
THE BODY?
Effects on the Heart
• Shortly after smoking marijuana the
heart rate increases drastically and
may remain elevated for up to 3
hours. This effect may be enhanced if
other drugs are taken with marijuana.
Effects on the Lungs
• After smoking marijuana, the
bronchial passage relaxes and
becomes enlarged, and the blood
vessels in the eyes expand making
the eyes look red. Marijuana smokers
can have many of the same
respiratory problems as tobacco
smokers, such as daily cough and
phlegm production, more frequent
acute chest illness, and a heightened
risk of lung
When the chemical from the synthetic marijuana
enters the body it flows through the bloodstream
making its ways to the main organs of the body
(such as the brain, hearts and the lungs).
Effects on the Brain
• Shortly after smoking the spice the user’s start to
demonstrate elevated mood, relaxation, and
altered perception—and in some cases the
effects are even stronger than those of
marijuana. Some users report psychotic effects
like extreme anxiety, paranoia, and
hallucinations.

10. HOW DOES THE
DRUG LEAVE THE
BODY?
Some of the most common methods that are thought to help flush
marijuana out of your system include drinking fluids, eating a healthy
diet, herbal supplements, exercise, sweating, niacin, and allowing
enough time to pass.
• Drink Fluids
Simply increasing your fluid intake could help. While it is not known
if water will help expedite flushing out THC (the chemical component
of marijuana that is stored in your fat cells) the excess water can
dilute metabolite count in your system.
• Eat more vegetables and stay away from fatty foods. High fat
foods make the digestive system less effective, which can inhibit
the detoxification process.
• Sweating
Excessive sweating is another method for flushing marijuana out of
your system. Sweating is one method the body uses to rid itself of
toxins. Heavy exercise or a sauna helps induce sweating.
• Niacin
Some people find that taking the over-the-counter
vitamin niacin is helpful in flushing out the body.
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a supplement that improves
skin health and the nervous system and promotes your
metabolism to work harder.
• Time
Because the body stores THC in the fat cells, clearing
it out takes time, between seven and one hundred
days, depending on the amount of usage. Your body
will cleanse itself naturally once you stop smoking pot.
• Exercise
Because THC is stored in fat cells, it is believed that
burning fat through heavy aerobic exercise, such as
jogging or fast walking, biking or swimming laps, will
help the body process and release THC stored in your
fat cells.
• Herbal Supplements
Some herbal supplements are used to enhance the
detoxification process, such as psyllium seeds, milk
thistle and cayenne.
NB: Research is still being done on the drugs,

11. WHAT ARE THE COMMON TREATMENT FOR
THE DRUG?
Getting help from family and friends isn’t always a realistic option for a spice addict.
Here are a few treatment options that can be taken into consideration:
Option1: Local Support Groups
• Joining a local Marijuana Anonymous (M.A.) support group in your area is a great first
step to getting clean.
• Some people in M.A. are addicted to spice in addition to having issues with marijuana.
Marijuana Anonymous meetings are free to attend, and patients can visit meetings
anytime they choose.
• For family members trying to understand the harmful effects of synthetic marijuana,
Marijuana Anonymous is a great place to start, too.
• Newly recovering addicts may want to attend professional private therapy or rehab plus
Marijuana Anonymous together, to improve the chances for success.

12. Option 2: Residential Treatment Centers
• Checking into a residential treatment center for spice addiction can be
ideal. Many residential treatment centers today accept insurance for
spice addiction treatment, and nearly all offer payment plans for
patients.
• At a residential treatment center, the counselors and staff are
equipped with the knowledge and experience to help a person kick
synthetic weed addiction for good. The patient needs to be ready for a
drastic lifestyle change, but with constant monitoring, supervision and
support, the journey becomes easier.

13. 3 STEPS TO PERMANENT RECOVERY
there are three actions required by the user to achieve permanent recovery from spice addiction:
• detox
• counseling, and
• self-help.
When all three are done together, a patient has a much greater chance of successful recovery.
• The detox process requires a strong support system who understands how to treat the symptoms
of withdrawal.
• Counseling helps the patient see how they were damaging their lives and the relationships
around them when using spice.
• Lastly, self-help is the key way to stay off drugs and continue a sober lifestyle well after treatment
is over.
After you’ve detoxed and quit using the drug, in-person support groups like Marijuana Anonymous
and online groups like this website can serve as a great sounding board that can help you stay on a
clean and sober path, for the long term.

14. PREVENTION PROGRAM AVAILABLE
SPICE ADDICTION SUPPORT!
• this support group is to help remind
people that they’re not alone in the
battle to overcome synthetic
marijuana addiction.
• Not only does this site aim to
provide useful and life-changing
resources for users of Spice, but we
also want to help the families,
friends and coworkers of Spice
addicts to find help for the people
they care about.
NARCONON INTERNATIONAL
Drug Rehabilitation and Drug Education
• Narconon is a non-profit drug
rehabilitation program dedicated to
eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction
through drug rehab, drug information and
drug education.
• We have over 100 drug rehab centers and
drug prevention/education centers around
the world, and we have helped millions of
people.

15. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
These prevention programs work to boost protective factors and eliminate or
reduce risk factors for drug use. The programs are designed for various ages
and can be designed for individual or group settings, such as the school and
home.
There are three types of programs:
• Universal programs address risk and protective factors common to all
children in a given setting, such as a school or community.
• Selective programs target groups of children and teens who have factors
that put them at increased risk of drug use.
• Indicated programs are designed for youth who have already begun using

16. CONCLUSION
The use of the real marijuana is illegal and the effect of the natural
chemicals THC, THCA, CBD and CBN i.s well known. Synthetic
marijuana on the other hand is a mystery to sciencist and everyday a
new mixture or strand is found. Because of the adverse reaction that
can be experience with these of this drug the FDA as made it a
controlled substance and is classificed as a Schedule 1 drug, right at
the top with all the hard core drugs available. Manufactures of this drug
package it so it is attracted especially to young people. But
REMEMBER not all that glitters is Gold.

17. IT’S NOT WORTH IT

18. JUST DON’T USE IT

19. REFERENCES
Castle, K. (2012, February 9). Synthetic marijuana was created strictly for research at
Clemson. Retrieved June 18, 2015, from
http://www.timesnews.net/article/9042095/synthetic-marijuana-was-created-strictly-for-
research-at-clemson
The Surprising Origins of Synthetic Marijuana. (2013, September 25). Retrieved June
18, 2015, from http://www.leafscience.com/2013/09/25/the-surprising-origins-of-
synthetic-marijuana/
Young, L. (2014, October 20). 12 Ways to Consume Marijuana. Retrieved June 23,
2015, from http://www.thestonerscookbook.com/article/2014/10/20/12-ways-to-
consume-marijuana/
Bonsor, K., & Gerbis, N. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2015, from
http://science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana2.htm
Marijuana: Effects, Medical Uses & Legalization - Drugs.com. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2,

20. REFERENCES CONTINUED
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015,
from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-
addiction/preventing-drug-abuse-best-strategy
Drug Rehabilitation & Drug Education. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.narconon.org/
How To Quit Using Spice (Safely) | SpiceAddictionSupport.org. (2014, December 12).
Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://spiceaddictionsupport.org/treatment-options-for-
spice-addiction/
Woolman, L. (n.d.). How to Flush Marijuana Out of Your System. Retrieved June 30,
2015, from
http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/How_to_Flush_Marijuana_Out_of_Your_System