One Step Ahead in the Drug Trade

Another new type of synthetic drug makes a guessing game for healthcare professionals seeking to understand the long term effects on users.

A growing new drug of choice for many users is synthetic cannabinoids, according to an article recently released. However, these drugs are able to brush the line of legality with their chemical makeup. In some instances, one small difference in the compound of the drug could make it legal to sell by law. Some states consider that if synthetics bear striking resemblance to other drugs, then they are illegal, while other states do not have as sophisticated laws.

Not only is this new type of drug posing additional problems for law enforcement, but health professionals are also struggling with how to treat and understand the long and short-term prognosis associated with drug use of this kind. Synthetic cannabinoids are drugs that are made artificially by changing the chemical makeup to look like a natural product.

Synthetics, some commonly known as K2, are now being altered in such a way that they have the same side effects as marijuana and demonstrate the same effects on the brain. The chemicals that are being used in the drugs now are so harsh and vary from similar synthetics and that adds another layer of difficulty for treatment and recovery for those addicts.

There seems to be somewhat of a domino effect with synthetics as more people become aware of them and their users. Makers seem to stay one step ahead of the law in many states and continue to produce them under the premise that they are legal, so it makes it increasingly difficult for a law crackdown.

In an ever-changing drug business, many of the professionals associated with helping those individuals curb their drug use will have to stay on the cutting edge as well and that may be extremely difficult.