Many people resort to using synthetic drugs for recreational use, which can lead to addictions and dependency. Synthetic drugs are created in labs and can have a unique effect on the brain and behavior. If you or someone you know is using synthetic drugs, it’s important to know the signs and the dangers of synthetic drugs.
Violence and Aggression
When taking synthetic drugs for the first time or long term, they can lead to violence and aggression in many individuals. It’s common to begin hallucinating, which in turn makes it easy to become paranoid and act out aggressively against innocent bystanders. For example, bath salts are one of the most common types of synthetic drugs available and are known as powerful, addictive stimulants that can make people extremely agitated, along with causing hallucinations. Bath salts may even cause some users to begin to harm themselves, putting them at an increased risk of committing suicide.
Flakka, or gravel, is also linked to hallucinations and packs a small punch in a grain of the drug, which has an active ingredient known as alpha-PVP. This drug has a similar effect to LSD and can allow users to feel high just by taking a few small grains.
The Dangers of Synthetic Drugs
Some of the batches of synthetic drugs may also be bad when they’re ingested, which has led to murders. The drugs can make it difficult to think coherently and control your actions, which makes them extremely dangerous and a threat while in public. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has discovered that 87 percent of drugs sold as Molly or MDMA were bath salts or contaminated by bath salts. This increases the risk of harmful side effects as people are unaware of what they’re actually taking.
Synthetic pot has also been shown to be tied to risky sex and violence in teens. It also puts them at a heightened risk of abuse of other drugs. Although fake weed is often marketed as safe, it can have unpredictable and life-threatening effects. Because it’s cheap and easy to obtain, it has led to 1 in 10 teens using the synthetic drug. Studies show that teens that use synthetic weed are at a higher risk of getting into a fight or carrying a gun. They’re also at a heightened risk of becoming a victim to sexual or physical violence.
Physical Signs
Many physical signs accompany synthetic drugs when they’re ingested and can increase the risk of death. It’s common to experience nausea, increased pulse, tremors, and excessive sweating. There’s also a higher risk of seizures with the use of synthetic drugs, which can be life-threatening.
Additional dangers include chest pain, heart attacks, vomiting, strokes, high blood pressure, and confusion. Synthetic drugs like bath salts can cause some individuals to act like a zombie and not appear to be mentally present. Their movements may become slower, and their speech may slow down.
Addiction is One of the Most Common Signs of Synthetic Drugs
Few people begin using synthetic drugs with the intent of becoming addicted. Unfortunately, it can be easy to believe that synthetic drugs are safer, but the strength and ingredients used are often difficult to determine for the user. They’re addictive because they act on transporters for the neurotransmitters that include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Many individuals increase their dosage or use of the drugs, which can cause them to become addicted quickly. Some people start to increase their dose as their body becomes more tolerant and doesn’t feel the effects as well. Unfortunately, this can begin to affect all aspects of the user’s life, making it difficult to function normally. Drug addiction treatment in North Carolina can provide you with professional help necessary to obtain tools and resources to work toward sobriety.
If you’re concerned for a friend or yourself about taking synthetic drugs, contact The Willows at Red Oak Recovery at 855.773.0614. You can learn more about the services we provide and receive the help you need to recover from an addiction to synthetic drugs.
