ER's Seeing More Patients with Synthetic Marijuana Side Effects
By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: July 30, 2012
While Arkansas bans another form of synthetic marijuana, called "XLR11," ER doctors say it's not slowing users down.
It's a little package that packs a big punch.
"People are seeing things, they're hearing things, they want to kill themselves, they want to kill other people. It's just really messed up," says Dr. Jim Holden, who works in the emergency room at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.
Inside ER's across Arkansas, doctors find themselves treating the side effects of synthetic marijuana.
"We've seen a big increase over the past few years of young people and even older people with problems associated with K2 and Spice."
But manufacturers keep changing the chemical compositions as fast as legislation is outlawing the substances.
"It's easy to get and a lot of young people are using that. They don't have to go out and find a dealer to buy marijuana from, they can just go to the convenience store and find someone to sell them this. Physically it's a lot more dangerous than marijuana, I mean you can use it one time and you can die from it," says Dr. Holden.
And it may be even more dangerous, just because it seems so innocent.
"People don't really understand what it is the synthetic marijuana acts on the same receptors that marijuana does, but it acts in a totally different way."
It's different enough, to be deadly
"It can be life threatening. We've seen several episodes where people have died from using K2 and Spice."
Which makes you wonder, why do people even mess with such a dangerous substance?
"We ask that all the time but its the same with any kind of drug abuse, methamphetamine alcohol abuse, it's easy to get addicted to these drugs," says Holden.
And while the law tries to keep up, the doctors in this ER hope people will take this little packet more seriously.
It's a little package that packs a big punch.
"People are seeing things, they're hearing things, they want to kill themselves, they want to kill other people. It's just really messed up," says Dr. Jim Holden, who works in the emergency room at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.
Inside ER's across Arkansas, doctors find themselves treating the side effects of synthetic marijuana.
"We've seen a big increase over the past few years of young people and even older people with problems associated with K2 and Spice."
But manufacturers keep changing the chemical compositions as fast as legislation is outlawing the substances.
"It's easy to get and a lot of young people are using that. They don't have to go out and find a dealer to buy marijuana from, they can just go to the convenience store and find someone to sell them this. Physically it's a lot more dangerous than marijuana, I mean you can use it one time and you can die from it," says Dr. Holden.
And it may be even more dangerous, just because it seems so innocent.
"People don't really understand what it is the synthetic marijuana acts on the same receptors that marijuana does, but it acts in a totally different way."
It's different enough, to be deadly
"It can be life threatening. We've seen several episodes where people have died from using K2 and Spice."
Which makes you wonder, why do people even mess with such a dangerous substance?
"We ask that all the time but its the same with any kind of drug abuse, methamphetamine alcohol abuse, it's easy to get addicted to these drugs," says Holden.
And while the law tries to keep up, the doctors in this ER hope people will take this little packet more seriously.
Comments
The 'marijuana culture'
5.0 out of 5 stars If David Sedaris had written 'Catcher in the Rye'..this would be it, June 30, 2012
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This review is from: Shoulda Robbed a Bank (Kindle Edition)
I have never smoked pot in my life...nor do I ever care to.
I read about this book in numerous Huffington Post comments. Thought I would read it because I know nothing about marijuana or the people involved with it. I am ecstatic that I did. Funny, Funny, Funny!!!
The chapters are like short stories. Stories about unloading boats with helicopters, close encounters with law enforcement, traveling through the jungles of South America. The chapter about the author's first time smoking marijuana made me feel like I was with him...coughing.
All of the characters were just a group of loveable, nice guys and girls. Not what I had been raised to believe...hysterical maniacs high on pot bent on death and mayhem. They were nothing like that.
If you have ever read any of David Sedaris' books, and like them...you will love Shoulda Robbed a Bank.
And the crazy things happening reminded me of Holden Caufield in 'Catcher in the Rye' and the way he staggered through life.
The way the words are put together are like nothing I have ever heard. I am sure I will use many of the sayings found in this book just to dazzle my friends. A terrific read. I love this book.
Hugh H.
July 30, 2012 at 3:19 pm
"Synthetic marijuana"...is that like synthetic corn? synthetic potatos? synthetic watermelon?
Incredible that this stuff is legal and marijuana is not.
The 'drug war' is a farce. If the same efforts were extended to REAL crimes, our country would see improvement. 48% of the Federal Prison population are drug offenders. And, per the DOJ's own statistics, the vast majority of them are non-violent.
Some of the best pot I ever smoked was in Federal Prison....during a 5 year 'visit.'
I served that time for a marijuana offense.
I wrote about it in:
Shoulda Robbed a Bank
While watching armed bank robbers come and go in as little as 20 months.
True tales of the 'marijuana culture'...Americans in '...pursuit of happiness.'
I hope you check it out.%u201D
Hugh H.
July 30, 2012 at 3:13 pm
"Which makes you wonder, why do people even mess with such a dangerous substance?"
well, could it be maybe because majijuana is still illegal?
greg g.
July 30, 2012 at 9:04 am
