Synthetic Drugs have sadly become evident at a teen party last Saturday night. 18th birthday, Alcohol Managed (Beer and Cider) via Unome Bar System. 3 teenagers ill, vomiting, one passed out . One of these kids was taken to hospital. Information via the parent and emergency services is that the reaction was extreme. Toxicology reports indicate nil reading for drugs.
Characteristics appeared to mimic drug use
Parents need to understand and be aware that Synthetic Drugs are widely available and can be lethal.
Synthetic Drugs often mimic the same affects as street drugs however the reactions can be extreme and sometimes fatal. Synthetic Drugs can be consumed the same way as illegal drugs. This also includes ingesting via E-cigarettes.
Synthetic Drugs are on the increase. Parents need to be vigilant. Schoolies and end of year celebration season is not far away.
Popular Synthetic Drugs contain substances such as cannabinoids and the cathinones , as well as the NBOME group. All are of concern to the medical profession and emergency services. At this stage a standard urine drug screen will not show novel products, an extended drug screen won’t either.
Often young people experiment with Synthetic Drugs for the following reasons:
Cant be detected
It is cheap and not illegal to use
They are very easy to obtain online, and their legal status is blurry- their rate of evolution is far faster than the rate of legislation..
They get a similar high to many of the illegal drugs sold
Characteristics of people that have consumed drugs/synthetic drugs are as follows:
Extremely animated (more so then the rest of the party)
Dancing with extreme energy and exaggerated movements
Conversation is erratic and does not make sense
Over affectionate to strangers
Frequency of consuming water
**Often people that are consuming drugs will consume a minimal amount of alcohol but drink plenty of water **
Side affects are as follows:
- euphoria, energy, alertness for up to six hours
- aural and visual senses enhanced
- stimulation of brain and central nervous system
- increased or erratic heart rate and raised blood pressure
- skin tingling, sweating, tremor, fever
- clenching of teeth
- rigid muscles
- vomiting
- reduced appetite
- difficulty urinating
- agitation, anxiety
- insomnia
- paranoia
- water retention or dehydration, especially if the pills were used with alcohol
- sore throat or nasal passages if snorting
- significant hangover effects that can last up to 4 days
In greater quantities
- hallucinations
- convulsions
- slowed breathing
- Death
