Synthetic drugs are taking the world of drug usage by a storm. These are chemically altered or laced substances mimicking marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines and sold over the counters in shops.
The packaging of the drugs always indicate “Not fit for human consumption” but are blatantly sold.
Every 2-3 weeks a new altered synthetic drug hits the market even before the authorities can test them to know their effects and danger or even legislate to decide their illegality . The loopholes are first figured out in the regulations by replacing a banned chemical compound in a synthetic cannabinoid or cathinones as some are called with a new formulation unknown to authorities . So consumers are totally unaware of the reactions of some of these chemicals .. Thus they are very dangerous as they contain chemicals that can be several times more stronger than the original chemical compound they are mimicking. There have been several fatalities linked to use and abuse of synthetic drugs.
Some of the Synthetic drugs and their effects:
Synthetic Marijuana–
Sold as incense, products like Spice, G-Four, K2 ,Yucatan fire, Skunk, Moon rocks, Mojo etc.These are chemicals mimicking as cannabinoids sprayed on random herbs/ leaves and sold . Effects- extreme anxiety, nausea, paranoea, confusion, hallucinations. It has also been associated with elevated blood pressure, reduced blood supply to the heart.
Long term effects- affects short term memory, motivation, emotional instability, reasoning, learning and stamina are adversely affected.
5 –MeO-DMT
Is made synthetically and also derived from the venom sac and skin of a type of toad Bufo alvarius. It is vaporized, insufflated or injected. The experiences are immersive, like a rushing sensation , a shifting of perspective, of short duration , there is an experience of a void, dissociation . Excessive usage can also result in death.
LSZ Lysergic acide 2,4 dimethylazetidide
It is an ergoloid or synthetic form of LSD Effects –can result in severe paranoea.
MXE is a “replacement dissociative” that mimics the effects of drugs like Ketamine and PCP. Dissociatives disrupt the actions of the brain chemical glutamate at certain types of receptors on nerve cells throughout the brain causing the distortion of perceptions of sight and sound and producing a feeling of detachment from the environment and one’s self. Dissociatives can impair vision and the hearing, cause anxiety, memory loss, impaired motor skills, numbness, and many other unpredictable symptoms that can last for hours and sometimes days.
Flakka and bath salts also called cathinones are considered “replacement euphoric stimulants and empathogens” and are meant to mimic the effects of both amphetamines and hallucinogens. It can also contain mephedrone.. -Bath salts are sold as crystalline powder in a small bag with names such as Ivory Wave, Blow, Red Dove, Vanilla Sky Aura, Zeus 2, Zoom, Bliss, Blue Silk, White Lightning, Ocean, Charge, White Dove and others. Flakka contains alpha-PVP, a chemical cousin of cathinone, the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts which was banned in 2011. These drugs cause a surge in two chemicals: the feel-good chemical dopamine (responsible for the euphoric sensations) and norepineprhine (which raises heart rate and blood pressure and can make us more alert).
–Excessive use has been linked with feelings of extreme anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, and violent behavior., seizures, insomnia, chest pain, self mutilation.
– Users frequently describe the high as “horrible” and report seeing demons, monsters, foreign soldiers or aliens. Some have symptoms for 2-3 days. Some require long term psychiatric care because their symptoms don’t improve.
Long term physical effects- Kidney failure, Liver failure, Increased risk of suicide , long term mental illness etc.
In India as in other countries ,these drugs are available through mail order sites where they are sold as research chemicals. As a result they are not marked as scheduled drugs in India nor covered in the NDPS act due to which they get cleared at customs . Thus they enter the country legally ready for consumption.
Awareness about the solution to addiction is as important as awareness of the problem- ie treatment in a voluntary, confidential, conducive, compassionate environment .
Anatta Humanversity Pvt.Ltd.
Contact Person- Ms. Vandana Hiranandani +91 9967334000
Dr. Sujatha Nair +91 9820330439 Website- www.anatta.in