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Synthetic Drugs Cause Alarming
Increase in Medical Emergencies
By Join Together Staff | April 6,
2011 | Leave a comment | Filed in Addiction, Drugs, Prevention, Treatment, Young Adults & Youth
Synthetic drugs—substances that
mimic the effects of marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs—are causing a
sharp rise in serious health problems ranging from seizures and hallucinations
to death. The Associated Press
(AP) reports that synthetic drugs, often sold as incense or bath salts, can be
bought for as little as $10 in head shops. Hospitals are seeing a rapid
increase in synthetic drug users with problems including breathing problems, rapid heartbeats, delusions
and extreme paranoia.
Figures from the American
Association of Poison Control Centers show at least 2,700 people have gotten
sick from synthetic drugs since January, compared with fewer than 3,200 in all
of 2010. At that rate, medical emergencies stemming from synthetic drugs could
rise nearly fivefold by the end of 2011, according to the AP. The drugs are
suspected in at least nine deaths in the U.S. since last year.
One of the most popular
synthetic drugs, bath salts, are crystallized chemicals that users snort,
swallow or smoke. The two powerful stimulants in the salts mimic cocaine, LSD
and methamphetamine. In the first three months of 2011, poison control centers
received more than 1,400 calls for bath salts, compared with 301 in all of
2010.
A new European Union report shows a sharp rise in
synthetic drugs -- so-called "legal highs" that are
often deceptively labelled and sold on the Internet. While there are some signs
that the use of heroin, cocaine and cannabis are declining, the study posits
that these are being replaced by "new synthetic drugs and patterns of
use."
The findings are part of the "European Drug
Report," presented on Tuesday by the EU's drugs agency, the European
Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
In 2012
alone, reads the report, 73 new psychoactive substances were identified by EU
member states through the body's early warning system, compared to only 24 such
substances that were identified in 2009. These new psychoactive substances are
developed to mimic the effects of controlled drugs
New
Drugs, Unknown Implications
Substances
come and go quickly, though some will establish themselves on the illicit
market. The EU early warning system received a report of a new substance about
once every week in 2013, says the study. The lack of pharmacological and
toxicological data on the substances "means it is hard to speculate on
long-term health implications of use," the report says.
"The
growing availability of 'new psychoactive substances' that are not controlled
under international drug control treaties represents a relatively new
development on European drug markets," it continues. "Commonly
produced outside of Europe, these substances can be obtained through online
retailers, specialized shops, and are also sometimes being sold along with
controlled substances on the illicit drug market."
The
term "legal highs" is often a misnomer, as the substances are quickly
controlled in parts of the EU through the early warning system. To avoid
controls, the drugs "are often mislabelled, for example as 'research
chemicals' or 'plant food' with disclaimers that state the product is not
intended for human consumption." By January 2012, the EU had identified
693 online shops offering new psychoactive substances to European consumers.
The
European Commission is currently working on a proposal for strengthening the
EU's response to new psychoactive substances.
One in
Four Have Used Illegal Drugs
A
quarter of European adults -- some 85 million people -- have used illegal drugs
at some point in their lives, according to the EU study. Most report using
cannabis (77 million) with lower rates for cocaine (14.5 million), amphetamines
(12.7 million) and ecstasy (11.4 million). The UK ranks highest in cocaine,
amphetamine and ecstasy use, while Denmark and France consume the most
cannabis.
There were about one
million seizures of illicit drugs made in Europe in 2011, mostly small
quantities confiscated from users and the majority from two countries: Spain
and the United Kingdom. The most-seized drug by far in Europe is cannabis -- 41
percent of it marijuana, and 36 percent hash. Cocaine and crack
are second at 10 percent.
In
2011, heroin seizure was at its lowest point in a decade -- the equivalent of
half as much as was confiscated in 2001. Amphetamine and ecstasy remain the most
commonly used synthetic stimulants in Europe, though methamphetamine's
increasing availability in some markets is seeing it displace amphetamine.
After taking a massive dip of about two-thirds between 2006 and 2011, there are
some indications that ecstasy is making a mild resurgence.
The
Internet poses a particular challenge when it comes to drug control, the study
says, "both as a mechanism for rapid diffusion of new trends and as a
burgeoning anonymous marketplace with global reach."
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