Synthetic Marijuana and Bath Salts Nina Hancock, LMFT Therapist at the Adventure Program 1003 North Broadway Johnson City, TN

Fake Pot aka K2 Uses chemical compounds that are structured similar to THC, active ingredient in marijuana and mixes with varying mixtures of dried herbs, flowers and tobacco leaves Uses chemical compounds that are structured similar to THC, active ingredient in marijuana and mixes with varying mixtures of dried herbs, flowers and tobacco leaves These compounds typically give a similar affect as pot with a mellow or euphoric feeling These compounds typically give a similar affect as pot with a mellow or euphoric feeling Sold at “head shops”, online, sometimes convenience stores Sold at “head shops”, online, sometimes convenience stores Supposed to be illegal in TN-July 2010, difficult to enforce Supposed to be illegal in TN-July 2010, difficult to enforce Can be as much as 10 times as potent, high lasts 1 to 1 ½ hours Can be as much as 10 times as potent, high lasts 1 to 1 ½ hours Names: Spice, K2, K6, Happy Hour, Zombie blood Names: Spice, K2, K6, Happy Hour, Zombie blood

Types of Fake Pot

Happy Shaman

Bath Salts 9/7/11- DEA moved to use its emergency scheduling authority to temporarily control methylenedioxypyrovalerone and 2 other synthetic stimulants: mephedrone and methylone.

Bath Salts

Bath Salts Names: Ivory Wave,Bliss, White Lightning, Hurrican Charlie, Vanilla Sky Bath Salts Names: Ivory Wave,Bliss, White Lightning, Hurrican Charlie, Vanilla Sky Powerful stimulants (methedrone and MDPV), similar to cocaine or meth Powerful stimulants (methedrone and MDPV), similar to cocaine or meth Mostly snorted Mostly snorted Some states are seeing more of a problem than others ( example by 1/2011 Louisiana had had 160 poison control cases and enacted a ban by the Governor) Some states are seeing more of a problem than others ( example by 1/2011 Louisiana had had 160 poison control cases and enacted a ban by the Governor) Poison Control had 303 cases in 2010 and 4720 cases from 1/1/11 to 8/31/11- Nationally Poison Control had 303 cases in 2010 and 4720 cases from 1/1/11 to 8/31/11- Nationally Physical effects of tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmias, hyperthermia, seizures, stroke, myocardial infarction, and even death. Physical effects of tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmias, hyperthermia, seizures, stroke, myocardial infarction, and even death. Behavioral and mental effects include panic attacks, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, aggressive or violent behavior (such as self-mutilation, suicide attempts, and homicidal activity), insomnia, anorexia, and depression. Behavioral and mental effects include panic attacks, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, aggressive or violent behavior (such as self-mutilation, suicide attempts, and homicidal activity), insomnia, anorexia, and depression.

Problems with K2 -Don’t know what you are getting -Different people have different reactions -Increasing number of emergency room visits over last several years presenting with high blood pressure, heart palpitations, vomiting, paranoia, hallucinations and seizures (Midwest had higher incidents) -Sometimes user is not mellow but delirious, anxious, or agitated state -seizures ( per kid reports) -psychotic behaviors, sometimes permanent

Psychological Effects Many times mellow, euphoria mimicking pot (but most kids say not as good as pot) Many times mellow, euphoria mimicking pot (but most kids say not as good as pot) Sometimes : Agitated state Sometimes : Agitated state Paranoia Paranoia Psychotic symptoms: not in touch with reality, hallucinating, rapid mood shifts, Psychotic symptoms: not in touch with reality, hallucinating, rapid mood shifts, May be seeing more of a “crash” come down May be seeing more of a “crash” come down Anxious/ Panic feeling Anxious/ Panic feeling

Long Term Effects WE DON’T KNOW WE DON’T KNOW I think we will see a strong pattern of addiction/ highly addictive many are reporting great difficulty quitting even when wanting to I think we will see a strong pattern of addiction/ highly addictive many are reporting great difficulty quitting even when wanting to For the people that become permanently psychotic: great amounts of care, lack of mood control, difficulty interfacing with others, new crisis in mental health care For the people that become permanently psychotic: great amounts of care, lack of mood control, difficulty interfacing with others, new crisis in mental health care

How does all this affect teachers? Impaired learning: low motivation to complete work, state dependent learning, many have given up long ago and are now behind, poor memory, difficult to understand your message Impaired learning: low motivation to complete work, state dependent learning, many have given up long ago and are now behind, poor memory, difficult to understand your message Sleeping in class, or sedated Sleeping in class, or sedated Truancy-skipping to use, not being motivated to come, missing the next day due to use yesterday Truancy-skipping to use, not being motivated to come, missing the next day due to use yesterday

How this affects teachers? Continued… Moody- increased irritability, opposition, angry, up and down roller coaster Moody- increased irritability, opposition, angry, up and down roller coaster Opposition: you can’t make me, power struggles Opposition: you can’t make me, power struggles Disrupts classrooms for other students Disrupts classrooms for other students Secondary problems from family use Secondary problems from family use I think possibly a more agitated “ come down” I think possibly a more agitated “ come down”

How can teachers help facilitate change? 1. Teachers/school staff have an opportunity to make the earlier intervention. 2. You can be part of the consequences that bring change. 3. You can be the adult mentor in their life that liked them, told them they could make it and deserve to want more. 4. You see them more than many. 5. You can see things parents can’t see.

How can teachers facilitate change? cont. 9. Monitor and notice, make it more difficult, design external controls. 10. Help them manage stress. 11. Meet them at their culture. 12. Help them find a non-use passion. 13. Keep hope alive.

Consequences Advice From teens: “First time you catch them do something big” “First time you catch them do something big” “Stop it before it gets too bad” “Stop it before it gets too bad” “Just because it’s not your kids doesn’t mean you can’t help them” “Just because it’s not your kids doesn’t mean you can’t help them” “The kids are never too old for recess” “The kids are never too old for recess”