"Synthetic marijuana" turned out to be more dangerous than usual

Anna Stavina, XX2 century

Synthetic cannabinoids, also called "spice", are often offered as a legal and safe alternative to smoking marijuana. However, their use is associated with a large number of serious side effects. The new review contains clinical cases caused by the use of synthetic substances.

Synthetic cannabinoids are available in two forms. They are either sprayed on dried plants – the resulting mixture can then be smoked like tobacco, or introduced into the composition of evaporated liquids intended for inhalation.

A new review prepared by the staff of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) warns of the possible dangers of using these substances, often (and erroneously) called "synthetic marijuana".

Speaking about substances that are sold under the name "K2" or "spice", co-author of the review Paul Prather, a specialist in cellular and molecular pharmacology from UAMS, explained: "In the United States, around 2007, people who claimed to have smoked marijuana began contacting emergency departments. However, they had strange symptoms that were not similar to the effects of marijuana use."

The review was compiled using the available literature on synthetic cannabinoids. He demonstrates that these substances are different from marijuana and cannot be considered as an alternative to it. In fact, these are completely different drugs that have numerous dangerous – sometimes fatal – effects.

The work was published in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (Ford et al., Synthetic Pot: Not Your Grandfather's Marijuana).

The principle of action of synthetic cannabinoids is in many ways similar to the mechanism of operation of marijuana. These substances activate CB1 cannabinoid receptors located mainly in the brain and other parts of the central nervous system. The main active ingredient of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, also affects CB2 receptors concentrated in the immune system.

However, as scientists note, synthetic cannabinoids affect CB1 receptors much more strongly than tetrahydrocannabinol. In addition, since synthetic substances differ in formula from the components of conventional marijuana, they are theoretically able to affect other receptors that are still unknown. Thus, it would be possible to explain the negative effect on the body caused by the use of synthetic cannabinoids.

The data collected so far suggests that the new drugs are much more toxic than marijuana. In particular, they affect the nervous and cardiovascular system, negatively affect the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Against the background of the use of synthetic cannabinoids , the following symptoms and conditions were noted in patients:

• convulsions;
• convulsions;
• catatonia;
• kidney damage;
• increased blood pressure;
• chest pain;
• defeat of the heart muscle;
• ischemic stroke.

Among the common side effects were: prolonged intense vomiting, anxiety, panic attacks and irritability. In addition, against the background of the use of synthetic cannabinoids in the presence of predisposition, patients developed extremely severe psychosis. Smoking marijuana can also provoke psychosis in some patients, but they are much easier.

In addition, between 2011 and 2014, 20 deaths related to the use of synthetic cannabinoids were reported in the United States. There were no reports of deaths due to the use of marijuana during this period.

And finally, the use of new drugs is likely to lead to the development of addiction and severe withdrawal syndrome.

Synthetic cannabinoids are not detected during standard tests. Therefore, they are especially popular among people who would like to avoid detection, for example, among teenagers or military personnel. Such users usually buy drugs over the Internet, often without knowing what exactly they are buying, since the composition of the mixture in each subsequent purchase may be different.

"The changes may concern not only the amount of the active substance, but also its formula itself," says William Fantegrossi, co–author of the review, a specialist in behavioral pharmacology. "In one mixture, you can usually find three, if not five, different synthetic cannabinoids," adds Prater.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  03.02.2017