It is bad enough that society has to deal with the drugs identified as illegal harming our children. Now there is a new batch of legal drugs that can be purchased at any local convenience store by anyone that has the money. They are unregulated, because they are not actually marketed as drugs, and believe it or not, often cheaper than the real thing. To top it all off, they are virtually undetectable on most standard urine drug tests. They are synthetic in nature and the component that is picked up in a urine test has been removed without tampering with the drugs desired effect.
Synthetic THC
This is a marijuana “act alike” that is marketed under a number of different names. Spice, K-2, K-3 and AK-47 are just a few. It is easy to spot because it is a green leafy substance. Sometimes it is packaged in medicine like bottles. Just like marijuana, it produces a warming sensation that leads to a dissociative state. It even causes the munchies. A good size package of it costs between $30 and $40. THC is the substance tested for in urine drug tests. Synthetic THC ( JWH-018) will not show up in a urine drug test.
White Lightening
Sometimes this cocaine substitute is called White Night. It is marketed as bath salts and sells for $35 to $45, a fraction of the price of cocaine. Like cocaine, it is snorted and produces a sense of invincibility, rapid heartbeat and sexual stimulation.
Liquid Rush
This is a product that is marketed as incense. It is snorted and causes dizziness and confusion. Rush is a relatively short term high, but for less that $10, it is worth the price of the ticket to a lot of teenagers.
Stamina Rx
These little blue pills are sold in a two pack and usually 4 to 6 pills are all that is needed. They are known as a party drug because they lessen inhibitions and heighten sexual stimulation. They have roughly the same effect as ecstasy, but sell for less than $2.
Aside from the physical danger and the fact that they can not be detected, these drugs are known for their aphrodisiac effect. Children, sometimes not old enough to drive a car, are experimenting with one risky behavior that leads to another risky behavior.
These substances are unregulated and legal in most states. A few states have outlawed them and others are getting on the band wagon, but unfortunately the legislative process can move slower than our children need it to. Convenience stores sell the products because they have a market for them and patrons that would be outraged are uninformed. Knowledge followed by action is the best defense until state legislatures make these illegal drug substitutes inaccessible to children.
A teenager doesn’t have to go to a convenience store to buy something to get high. There are plenty of common household highs right in the average American home.
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