College crowds teenagers smoke 'spice' that imitates pot

Addiction & Recovery Substance Abuse
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As college students return to college, some are cracking open lip balm-size jars and plastic bags of a legal herb product that mimics the effects of marijuana.
K2, or Spice, is a lab-made leafy green drug that looks and smells like oregano, with hints of blueberry, citrus and other flavors. The designer drug is showing up at tobacco and head shops, misleadingly labeled as "incense." The labels also inform buyers that the contents are not fit for human consumption, but behind closed doors the "incense" is being puffed as a legal alternative to marijuana.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/29/653430/college-crowd-smokes-spice...

Parents aware of teen drug use should know the facts of smoking K2. Sold as incense, herbs and spices treated with synthetic chemicals produce a high like marijuana.

Any parent who is raising a teenager in this day and age knows how tough it is for a young person to fit in with the crowd. Even the best students give in to peer-pressure now and then, seeing little or no harm in doing something that's perfectly legal. Unfortunately, a legal – and potentially harmful – substance is attracting kids in droves. Incense isn't regulated, so anyone, including children, can buy it.

K2, otherwise known as "fake pot," is produced in China and Korea. It's sold online, and can be found in smoke shops and stores where incense is sold. How popular is K2? Merchants who sell the pricey bags of fragrant herbs can't keep the stuff on the shelves.
What Is K2 and How are Teenagers Using It?

K2 is incense – a blend of herbs and spices sprayed with a synthetic compound similar to THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) found in marijuana. The combination looks like crushed potpourri. Blends are traditionally burned in incense pots; however, teens roll the K2 incense in wrappers to make joints, or they smoke it in pipes. When smoked, K2 delivers a high similar to that of marijuana. Users claim it's almost impossible to tell the difference between the two.

Sold under names like Supernova, Spice, Genie, Zohai, and Spirit, the incense is even sold by the gram, just like marijuana. Blends of K2 include Blonde, Citron, Summit, and Standard, just to name a few kinds.

Is There Any Harm in Smoking K2? Read More: http://drug-abuse.suite101.com/article.cfm/teenagers-smoking-k2-have-aut...

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I am a cigarette smoker and have seen this at the tobacco shop. I almost freaked out when I saw the baggie on the counter thinking "OMG they are selling pot???"

Thanks for the info!

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im a teenager myself andi know of what your talking about. i hear about it all the time and have friends that do smoke it. the most popular is called black magic. it does give you the same high as if you smoked weed,but its not as bad for you as a cigarette. there are a lot of things that can get you high like weed would. cleaning products for one. but that is more harmful to the kids then actually smoking the legal weed. i dunno bout you, but if i were in a parents shoes, id rather my kid smoke that than start huffing poisonus fumes from cleaners. sure, it may lead to them smoking the real stuff, but there will be a lot of kids who will turn it down because its not the same.the legal weed tastes diffrent from regualr weed, wen u smoke it, the legal stuff is a lot softer and smoother than original weed, and lastly, legal weed doesnt keep you high very long. and it takes a lot to get you high. sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but i was in high school, i know how it goes lol.

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Wow -- I was wondering what that smell was! Every time I bring things from home over to my kid's dorm I get hit with this cloying odor. It overlays the smell of pot, which is also a fairly constant scent.
I've gotta be honest, I joined this support group network because of concerns I have about the safety and the emotional climate of the dorm. I've feared sounding like a hopelessly over-protective mom, but it's really been worrying. Our oldest, a freshman has moved into student housing. We were reassured constantly that the alcohol and drug laws were taken very seriously. The kids all have to sign these drug-law addendum forms, agreeing to searches at any time; stipulating that if they break these rules they will be evicted immediately -- no refund of rental fees -- even for an empty bottle of beer. Period. And it was the primary reason we considered dorm (as opposed to commute) arrangements. I know there are a few kids who are in drug recovery. My own kid is just extremely opposed to drug use. Always has been. It's a personal choice, not something preached to others, but it's a firmly held belief based on very sound, health specific reasoning. Unfortunately many of the students who enjoy indulging in drugs and alcohol don't share the concept of choice. For whatever reason they seem absolutely insistant that social events must involve at least substantial inebriation. It is, in their elegant vernacular, "a party-foul" or, "not gettin high, yer not hangin' out". I can only begin to imagine how this must feel. I was never thrown out of a party for "not drinking" at college. I lacked the good judgement and strength of character. But, I've lived long enough to know how much better off I would have been if I'd HAD that kind of resolve. I'm very sorry I didn't. I look back at myself at that age and remember being SO sure that I knew better, and I was terribly arrogant. I don't know if anyone could have convinced me that "fitting in" and "taking the edge off" my excrutiating feelings of doubt and anxiety were coming at too high a cost.
But -- I do know that I've been blessed with a kid who's a lot wiser than I was at that age. I want to be supportive.
Oh, hell, I want to storm in and smash every bottle and bong -- and dump the whole smelly mess in the administrator's lap. The same one who so staunchly assured all of us gulible parents that this issue is "paramount" etc., etc. But okay, seriously -- I get the sinking feeling that nothing much (or nothing helpful) would come of a complaint. I could be wrong, but the drug use is such a wide spread thing -- or specifically, the marijuana, alcohol and "designer-smoke" consumption is. I know my kid is starting to feel like the only person on the planet who "doesn't get high" and like that is a freakish thing. I'm just so angry about the pushiness. I mean, why can't they just do as they choose and leave others to choose for themselves. I really thought the danger of bullying didn't carry over into higher education.
I don't know if anyone will even read this, it's so long and rambling. I just felt like I was going to explode.
Intellectually, I know that part of being a good parent is stepping back sometimes. Emotionally? I'm lost on this. It's so hard to think rationally when your kids hurt. Anyway, I'd really very much appreciate any feedback -- either from other parents, students, or anyone who may connect with this.
Thanks

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hi there

unimatricmom

you are right its hard to stand back when your fledgling chick is out in the bad world. having said that we have had five go to further education and do their own thing one doesnt drink or smoke his body is his temple and its wearing to here what is good/bad for the body.

he attended all the parties and had his shakes or water in his bottle and didnt suffer any great detriment for being alone in the crowd. i think some of the problems is u cant be rational because u are bringin a younger u into the picture so it clouds your judgement of how your chick will handle this situation.

reassure her/him that it is ok to be different and that no one can stop them from doing something if they dont want to. but im afraid bullying continues for some into the work place as well. its all about equiping them with the statergies to get past the pettiness of others

loving thoughts and positive vibes

D :)

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Good Insight -
Thanks,Domestic,
Really good points. You’re right that it’s hard to deal with present situations when you have painful memories of “yourself at that age”. That’s true, I think, with a lot of parenting challenges. I’ve seen a lot of parents, myself absolutely included, both over and under-react with time-warped perspectives.
I’m not concerned that lack of partying will have adverse effects – I just don’t quite get the pushy-conformity- mentality that seems to prevail. We moved a couple of years back to a smaller community. Very smaller, actually. I guess I was prepared for other attitudes, but not party-nazis.
I agree that it’s about good strategies for coping with pettiness. Got Any? :wink: Okay, but really, sometimes it’s better for me to cyper-fume, or whatever, than to give this stuff too much weight in weekend-home discussions.
Thanks for taking the time to share your insight. I appreciate the supportive words and kind thoughts.
Brightest Blessings to You and Your Family,

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unimatrixmom

stratergies to share? u have said the most important one fume here not at them,

when number one went to uni we made a list of things that we found hard to deal with, and encouraged her to do the same at xmas break...guess what very few of our worries were hers!!!

the things she worried about were so far off the scale from what we thought it would be that we had to reevaluate how we as parents were going to tackle the things she deemed important.

its all about gettin it in perspective they live in a different world to the one we did and the values u have allready installed in them are going to come to the fore now,

listen carefully u know your child best look for those childhood actions that sent signals in the past that thinngs were wrong, and act/monitor them as u have done previously but most of all enjoy the adult that u will see emerging from this baptisim of fire that we all go thru

loving thoughts and positive vibes
D :)

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And you survived this 5 times?!
Wow! Domestic,
I'm going to trust that maybe I can survive the transitions of mom-hood, maybe not with lots of dignity, but probably with some humor.
It's so true -- theirs is a very different world from the one we clammored through. Sometimes my son seems like a person from another time entirely. And while I know he has excellent values, and I hope I at least nurtured and supported them, his idealism makes him vulnerable at times. But it's a strength as well. It's really awesome, watching him come into his adulthood and getting to relate on different levels, with new fascinations. It's So cool to watch your kids explore new talents and passions, especially stuff I'm clueless about. It's unbelievablly rewarding. Exhausting sometimes, okay a lot. But Amazing.
I can't even imagine trying to sort all this with 5! Five different personallities and complexities. . . I may come through his college years with my sanity. Hafta letcha know. You sound so very balanced with it all. Like you found a great place to stand between your growth and theirs. Like you had an inate sense of when to hold them close and when to let go. Some moms do that gracefully. Your five chicks were very lucky. I'm still a bit wobbly with my own wings - rather like an innebriated whooping crane. Not that I've seen many. :)
Thanks again for your warm and caring thoughts.
Best to you and yours,
em

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unimatrixmom

well u have made my day at least with the post, i will be looking for those innevriated whooping cranes to see u :D

look at your post and see what a mature young man u have raised his idealistic views are probably a huge source of strength that will allow him to sail thru this worrying times that u are having.

my father in law told me years ago u hold them when they need holding u smile when u want to cry, and u support even if it makes no sense to a sane person. and at every first day of school his favorite was now is your turn to stand back and watch them fly

so yes we found a balance cos we had a pro in the background allowing for our fears but making sure his grandchildren could fly and spread their wings :D

hmm post seems to be all about wings to day lol

hope u and yours have a great day

loving thoughts and positive vibes

D :)