Drugs have been a problem in the US for decades. Addiction is not a new human condition. However, addiction has gotten much worse in America.
Several factors have triggered the rise in addiction statistics over the past two decades. A determining factor has been an increase in illegal, synthetic, highly addictive, extremely dangerous drugs that flooded the black market and became addictive to millions of Americans. Therefore, to get America out of the addiction epidemic, one must deal with illegal synthetics and help addicts get away from such drugs.
What are Illegal Synthetic Drugs?
Synthetic drugs are defined as: A synthetic drug is a drug with properties and effects similar to those of a known hallucinogen or narcotic. The main difference is that a synthetic drug has been modified slightly in its chemical structure, usually in a way that makes the drug more effective. Or the drug could be modified to circumvent local restrictions on illegal substances.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the task of combating illegal synthetic substances, defines this type of drug as follows: “These drugs are illegally produced with the intention of developing substances that differ slightly in their chemical structure from controlled substances while maintaining their pharmacological effects. These substances are commonly known as designer drugs. ”
Examples of illegal synthetic drugs
Examples of synthetic drugs are:
- Bath salts. Bath salts are mind altering and can cause psychotic, unpredictable states of mind. They are illegal, synthetic stimulants sold online or in head shops and are generally labeled “Not For Human Consumption”. Bath salts can cause sweating, nausea, vomiting, panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, and even death.
- Flakka. Flakka is usually white or pink and is generally found in crystal form.
- Spice / K2 (synthetic marijuana). K2 / Spice is a synthetic version of THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) and is a blend of cannabis plant material that is sprayed with synthetic psychoactive chemicals. This drug is quite dangerous because the user has no way of knowing what chemicals have been added to them.
- U-47700. Called “U4”, “pink” or “pinky” by users and retailers, U-47700 is a highly effective synthetic opioid. It looks like a white or light pink powder. U-4770 has effects similar to heroin and prescription opioid pain relievers.
- Fentanyl. One of the most dangerous synthetic drugs is fentanyl. Although fentanyl is a legal medicine, it is often made in secret drug laboratories and sold for recreational use. When fentanyl is made, sold, and used in this way, it is an illicit synthetic opioid. Fentanyl is extremely powerful, 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and 10 times stronger than heroin.
Many naturally occurring drugs are now being synthetically modified to make them more effective
One of the factors that make illegal synthetics so dangerous is that many naturally occurring drugs are now being synthetically modified to make them more effective. Synthetic cannabinoids or illegal synthetic marijuana are good examples.
Synthetic cannabinoids are marketed as “Not For Human Consumption” but are intended for recreational use. However, because this drug is artificial and derives its psychoactive components from man-made chemicals, additives, and fillers, there is no way to predict the effects it will have on the user. To make synthetic cannabinoids, a chemical liquid is often sprayed onto the cannabis leaves during processing, which leaves users unaware of what type of chemicals they are receiving.
Some of the side effects of experimenting with synthetic cannabinoids are:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Paranoid behavior
- Restlessness and irritability
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion, drowsiness, and headache
- Electrolyte abnormalities and seizures
- Suicide attempts, death
- Acute renal failure
- Negative effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
More and more young people are choosing illegal synthetic drugs
The consumption of illegal synthetic drugs is increasing. According to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, calls to poison control centers for synthetic cannabinoids more than doubled from 2014 to 2015. Calls related to bath salts increased from 2010 to 2011.
“Substances abused recently include new classes of drugs, including over-the-counter drugs, synthetic marijuana, synthetic stimulants like ‘bath salts’, strength-enhancing drugs, and new tobacco and nicotine-based products.”
Much of the increase in the use of illegal plastics has been among young people. According to the Monitoring-the-Future survey, an annual research project conducted to better understand public health factors for young people: “Substances abused recently include new classes of drugs including over-the-counter drugs, synthetic marijuana, synthetic stimulants such as ‘bath salts’, ingested drugs Strengthening the strength and new products based on tobacco and nicotine. ”
Overdose Statistics – Most drug deaths are caused by illicit synthetic substances
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioid overdoses were nearly 12 times higher in 2019 than they were in 2013. Much of that increase was caused by illegally made fentanyl, a rip-off of pharmaceutical grade fentanyl made by secret drug labs is, and sold on the black market.
More than 36,000 Americans died of synthetic opioid overdoses in 2019, making synthetic opioids the deadliest drug in America. And while the 2020 overdose data is not yet complete, the CDC estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a new surge in synthetic opioid deaths.
While legal pharmaceutical grade fentanyl has its medicinal uses (albeit extremely limited), illegal fentanyl is nothing more than a killer. Citing the CDC cautionary statement on America’s Most Dangerous Illegal Synthetic, “The recent fentanyl-related harm, overdosage and death cases in the US are related to illegally produced fentanyl. It is sold through illegal drug markets because of its heroin-like effects. It is often mixed with heroin and / or cocaine as a combination product – with or without the knowledge of the user – to increase its euphoric effect. ”
A bleak future if the Americans don’t do something
The rise in illegal synthetic drugs should be a cry for the American people. These drugs are dangerous, unpredictable, volatile in composition and deadly. The users never know what they are getting as secret drug organizations can add any chemical to them. The illegal synthetic fentanyl market alone poses a serious public health risk to the American people, and that is just one type of illegal synthetic fentanyl.
If the American people are to overcome the drug addiction epidemic the country has been in since the turn of the century, residents must unite and take community, county, city, and state health measures to prevent the spread of. prevent illegal use of synthetic drugs. You also need to treat those who are addicted to such substances.
