Understanding Spice/K2 Addiction & Treatment Options

K2 Spice is a substance that stimulates the same effects as marijuana. It’s often called “synthetic marijuana”, “synthetic cannabis”, or “fake weed”. K2 Spice may contain harmful chemicals, which may even be deadly. The effect of K2 spice can be much more intense and addictive than marijuana.

Spice is a combination of dried plants and synthetic chemicals. In many cases, herbs in K2 Spice are sprayed with at least one designer chemical that is from the cannabinoid family. One of the biggest issues with the drug is that it can always be slightly different. There are many variations of the substance, which makes it difficult to identify and treat.

Other Names for Spice

While Spice tends to be called synthetic marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids, but there are a ton of other street names. Some of these street names are:

• Black Mamba
• Mary Mack
• Moon Rocks
• Blaze
• Myrrh
• Bliss
• Red X dawn
• Bombay Blue
• Solar flare
• Fake Weed
• Skunk
• Genie
• Yucatan fire
• Joker
• Zohai
• Legal Cannabis
• 2k11
• Marinol

Risks of Spice/K2 Abuse

Most research about synthetic cannabinoids comes from case studies that focus on acute toxicity and short-term adverse effects. However, mounting evidence suggests that K2 and spice are physically addictive. There have been reports of serious and sustained withdrawal symptoms in people who have sought emergency medical care or rehab. In addition, large quantities of cannabinoid receptors are present in areas of the brain that may be related to addiction. Though these findings are not direct evidence, they strongly suggest that synthetic cannabinoids can cause dependence, addiction and withdrawal.

Signs of Spice/K2 Abuse and Addiction

There are many short-term effects of Spice/K2 use, including:

• Agitation
• Confusion
• Euphoria
• Hallucinations
• Kidney damage
• Numbness
• Permanent brain damage
• Rapid heart rate
• Seizures
• Sweating heavily
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Stroke
• Red eyes
• Psychotic episodes
• Paranoia
• Loss of control
• Increased anxiety
• Heart attack
• Dry mouth
• Aggression

Statistics on Spice Use

Synthetic cannabinoid use has fluctuated over the past decade. Although its use dropped after a peak in 2015, recent data suggests that usage is on the rise, particularly among young adults. Two studies reported data on gender differences among adults who use synthetic cannabinoids:

• Prevalence in men: Studies show that between 71.7% and 75.7% of users were men.
• Prevalence in women: Research indicates that between 24.3% and 28.5% of users were women.
• Teen abuse: According to 2018 data from the National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1.6% of 8th graders, 2.9% of 10th graders and 3.5% of 12 graders reported using synthetic cannabinoids. These numbers represent substantial decreases from peak use in 2015.

For the most part, there is little regional data on synthetic cannabinoid use. However, there is 2010–2015 data from the CDC as well as data from the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019 from The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education. These reports show that the northeastern region of the country is the most afflicted by synthetic cannabinoid use. Oregon and Washington have lower incidents of synthetic cannabinoid abuse.

K2 Spice Addiction Treatment

Are you or a loved on having a problem with K2 Spice addiction? Is it interfering with your daily life? It may be time to seek professional assistance. During medical detox, withdrawal symptoms can be managed with medications. Detox centers offer 24/7 medical care throughout the detox process.

It’s often a wiser choice to seek treatment at a treatment facility like The Recovery Village Ridgefield. Our facility offers the same medically-assisted detox that would be available at a detox center, and we also offer a residential treatment program, a partial hospitalization program, an intensive outpatient program, an outpatient treatment program and an aftercare program.

We are dedicated to helping you begin a long-term recovery journey. We are committed to helping you become clean and sober once and for all. If you are considering K2 Spice treatment, please give us a call today. Help is only one phone call away.