'FAKE POT' LEGAL, BUT DANGEROUS

There's a new drug trend among youth that parents should be aware of -
an herbal and chemical product which mimics the effects of marijuana.
It's best known by the brand names K2 or Spice and some are referring
to it as herbal incense or "fake weed."

Whatever brand name it goes by, it's proving to be dangerous and I
urge you to talk with your teens about the potential side effects.

This drug is a combination of herbs and spices that have been sprayed
with several synthetic chemicals that mimic the effects of marijuana.
It creates an unpredictable "high" depending on the chemicals.
Although currently legal in Washington, many states are moving to
outlaw it. The drug is banned in several European countries and by the
military.

Spice, K2 and other brands are typically found at tobacco shops as
well as gas stations and are often marketed as incense or "herbal
smoking blend." Although most packages say it's not intended for human
consumption, the products are usually smoked by users. "Because it's
sold openly and legally, some teens feel it must be safe, but nothing
could be further from the truth," says Tena Youngberg, a drug and
alcohol counselor with Youth Eastside Services.

Emergency rooms are seeing kids who've used this drug presenting with
racing hearts, blood pressure problems, vomiting, hallucinations,
paranoia and anxiety - not typical side effects of marijuana. There
have been reports of seizures after using Spice and in Iowa, an
18-year-old suffered a panic attack and committed suicide after
smoking it with friends. Long-term effects are yet to be determined as
no studies are available, but irreversible brain damage is suspected.

The use of this drug is definitely on the upswing. To date, the
American Association of Poison Control Centers has logged 1,358 calls
from 48 states and the District of Columbia from people who suffered
bad reactions to synthetic marijuana. Just 14 cases were reported in
all of 2009.

The Washington Poison Center reports 48 calls statewide this year and
has been seeing an increase over the past several weeks. Local
emergency rooms, including Overlake Hospital Medical Center in
Bellevue, are also seeing people with adverse reactions to synthetic
marijuana.

Knowledge is power, so talk with your teen (and their friends) about
the realities and dangers of this drug.

Patti Skelton-McGougan is executive director of Youth Eastside
Services (YES). Since 1968, YES has been a lifeline for kids and
families, offering counseling, treatment, education and prevention
services to help youth become healthy, confident and self-reliant and
families to become strong, supportive and loving. For more
information, call 425-747-4937 or go to www.YouthEastsideServices.org.