Synthetic Marijuana and Bath Synthetic Marijuana and Bath SaltsSalts

Nina Hancock, LMFT Nina Hancock, LMFT Therapist at the Adventure ProgramTherapist at the Adventure Program1003 North Broadway1003 North BroadwayJohnson City , TNJohnson City , TN 37601 423-232-37601 423-232-

43264326Nhancock@frontierhealth.orgNhancock@frontierhealth.org

Fake Pot aka K2 Fake Pot aka K2 Uses chemical compounds that are Uses chemical compounds that are

structured similar to THC, active ingredient in structured similar to THC, active ingredient in marijuana and mixes with varying mixtures of marijuana and mixes with varying mixtures of dried herbs, flowers and tobacco leavesdried herbs, flowers and tobacco leaves

These compounds typically give a similar These compounds typically give a similar affect as pot with a mellow or euphoric feelingaffect as pot with a mellow or euphoric feeling

Sold at “head shops” , online, sometimes Sold at “head shops” , online, sometimes convenience storesconvenience stores

Supposed to be illegal in TN-July 2010, Supposed to be illegal in TN-July 2010, difficult to enforcedifficult to enforce

Can be as much as 10 times as potent, high Can be as much as 10 times as potent, high lasts 1 to 1 ½ hourslasts 1 to 1 ½ hours

Names: Spice, K2, K6, Happy Hour, Zombie Names: Spice, K2, K6, Happy Hour, Zombie bloodblood

Types of Fake PotTypes of Fake Pot

Happy ShamanHappy Shaman

Bath SaltsBath Salts9/7/11- DEA moved to use its emergency scheduling 9/7/11- DEA moved to use its emergency scheduling

authority to temporarily control authority to temporarily control methylenedioxypyrovalerone and 2 other synthetic methylenedioxypyrovalerone and 2 other synthetic

stimulants: mephedrone and methylonestimulants: mephedrone and methylone..

Bath SaltsBath Salts

Bath SaltsBath SaltsNames: Ivory Wave,Bliss, White Lightning, Hurrican Names: Ivory Wave,Bliss, White Lightning, Hurrican

Charlie, Vanilla SkyCharlie, Vanilla Sky

Powerful stimulants (methedrone and MDPV), Powerful stimulants (methedrone and MDPV), similar to cocaine or methsimilar to cocaine or meth

Mostly snortedMostly snorted Some states are seeing more of a problem than Some states are seeing more of a problem than

others ( example by 1/2011 Louisiana had had 160 others ( example by 1/2011 Louisiana had had 160 poison control cases and enacted a ban by the poison control cases and enacted a ban by the Governor)Governor)

Poison Control had 303 cases in 2010 and 4720 Poison Control had 303 cases in 2010 and 4720 cases from 1/1/11 to 8/31/11- Nationallycases from 1/1/11 to 8/31/11- Nationally

Physical effects of tachycardia, hypertension, Physical effects of tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmias, hyperthermia, seizures, stroke, arrhythmias, hyperthermia, seizures, stroke, myocardial infarction, and even death. myocardial infarction, and even death.

Behavioral and mental effects include panic attacks, Behavioral and mental effects include panic attacks, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, aggressive or violent behavior (such as self-aggressive or violent behavior (such as self-mutilation, suicide attempts, and homicidal activity), mutilation, suicide attempts, and homicidal activity), insomnia, anorexia, and depression.insomnia, anorexia, and depression.

Problems with K2Problems with K2

-Don’t know what you are getting-Don’t know what you are getting

-Different people have different reactions-Different people have different reactions

-Increasing number of emergency room visits -Increasing number of emergency room visits over last several years presenting with high over last several years presenting with high blood pressure, heart palpitations, vomiting, blood pressure, heart palpitations, vomiting, paranoia, hallucinations and seizures paranoia, hallucinations and seizures (Midwest had higher incidents)(Midwest had higher incidents)

-Sometimes user is not mellow but delirious, -Sometimes user is not mellow but delirious, anxious, or agitated stateanxious, or agitated state

-seizures ( per kid reports)-seizures ( per kid reports)

-psychotic behaviors, sometimes permanent-psychotic behaviors, sometimes permanent

Psychological EffectsPsychological Effects

Many times mellow, euphoria mimicking Many times mellow, euphoria mimicking pot (but most kids say not as good as pot (but most kids say not as good as pot)pot)

Sometimes : Agitated stateSometimes : Agitated state ParanoiaParanoia Psychotic symptoms: not in touch with Psychotic symptoms: not in touch with

reality, hallucinating, rapid mood shifts, reality, hallucinating, rapid mood shifts, May be seeing more of a “crash” come May be seeing more of a “crash” come

downdown Anxious/ Panic feelingAnxious/ Panic feeling

Long Term EffectsLong Term Effects

WE DON’T KNOWWE DON’T KNOW I think we will see a strong pattern of I think we will see a strong pattern of

addiction/ highly addictive many are addiction/ highly addictive many are reporting great difficulty quitting even reporting great difficulty quitting even when wanting towhen wanting to

For the people that become For the people that become permanently psychotic: great permanently psychotic: great amounts of care, lack of mood control, amounts of care, lack of mood control, difficulty interfacing with others, new difficulty interfacing with others, new crisis in mental health carecrisis in mental health care

How does all this affect How does all this affect teachers?teachers?

Impaired learning: low motivation to Impaired learning: low motivation to complete work, state dependent complete work, state dependent learning, many have given up long learning, many have given up long ago and are now behind, poor ago and are now behind, poor memory, difficult to understand your memory, difficult to understand your messagemessage

Sleeping in class, or sedatedSleeping in class, or sedated Truancy-skipping to use, not being Truancy-skipping to use, not being

motivated to come, missing the next motivated to come, missing the next day due to use yesterdayday due to use yesterday

How this affects How this affects teachers? Continued…teachers? Continued…

Moody- increased irritability, opposition, Moody- increased irritability, opposition, angry, up and down roller coasterangry, up and down roller coaster

Opposition: you can’t make me, power Opposition: you can’t make me, power strugglesstruggles

Disrupts classrooms for other studentsDisrupts classrooms for other students Secondary problems from family useSecondary problems from family use I think possibly a more agitated “ come I think possibly a more agitated “ come

down”down”

How can teachers help How can teachers help facilitate change?facilitate change?

1.1. Teachers/school staff have an Teachers/school staff have an opportunity to make the earlier opportunity to make the earlier intervention.intervention.

2.2. You can be part of the consequences You can be part of the consequences that bring change .that bring change .

3.3. You can be the adult mentor in their life You can be the adult mentor in their life that liked them, told them they could that liked them, told them they could make it and deserve to want more. make it and deserve to want more.

4.4. You see them more than many.You see them more than many.5.5. You can see things parents can’t see.You can see things parents can’t see.

How can teachers How can teachers facilitate change? cont.facilitate change? cont.

9. Monitor and notice, make it more 9. Monitor and notice, make it more difficult, design external controls.difficult, design external controls.

10. Help them manage stress. 10. Help them manage stress.

11.11. Meet them at their culture. Meet them at their culture.

12.12. Help them find a non-use passion. Help them find a non-use passion.

13. Keep hope alive. 13. Keep hope alive.

ConsequencesConsequences

Advice From teens: Advice From teens: “ “First time you catch them do First time you catch them do

something big”something big” ““Stop it before it gets too bad”Stop it before it gets too bad” ““Just because it’s not your kids Just because it’s not your kids

doesn’t mean you can’t help them”doesn’t mean you can’t help them” ““The kids are never too old for The kids are never too old for

recess”recess”