3. The First Epidemic
1850-1914
• The Chinese immigrate to
California
•20 Years Later Opium
becomes “sporty”
•1890’s Opium Dens common
place in America
•America’s Response
4. The Explosion - 1960-
1970
• 50 years later... America
forgot!
• The New Message -
Drugs and Altered states
are “hip”
• Promote drug use as
“normal”
• 76 Million Baby Boomers
embrace the drugs and its
business opportunities
5. 1970 - 1980
• Cocaine - Expensive,
No serious
consequences
• Used by the “elite”
• Columbia’s
involvement brings
down the price of
cocaine.
• Mid 80’s - 6 Million
Americans using
regularly
6. 1986
• Death of College
Basketball star Len
Bias
• Cocaine found to be
dangerous and highly
addictive
• People turn away from
cocaine for other
drugs
• Columbia makes a
business move
7. What about the 90’s?
• Marijuana, inhalants,
methamphetamines “first time use”
decreased in 1999 (20%) from that of
1981(38%)
• Club Drugs
8. Synthetic
Cannabinoids
• John W. Huffman -
Clemson University
• Research for medical
uses of cannabinoids
as an alternative to
medical marijuana
• Published research
became available to
public
9.
10.
11.
12. How they Sell it!
• Mixed herbs are sprayed with the
synthetic cannabinoids
• Marketed under the name “Incense”
• Labeled as “Not for human
Consumption”
13. How it works
• Binds to cannabinoid receptors in the
human body, primarily the brain
• Some strains up to 800 times more
powerful than THC
• Causes euphoric/numbing sensations.
• Altered Mental Perception and
confusion
• Neurological Disturbances
14. Common Names
• K2 (JWH-018)
• Spice
• Gold
• Genie
• Zohai
• Black Mamba
Each one of these is a different
strain
of the synthetic cannabinoid
15. Side Effects
• Pale
• Diaphoresis
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Altered LOC
• Bizarre Behavior
• Respiratory
Depression
• Violent Behavior
• Respiratory or Cardiac
Arrest
16. Management
• NO KNOWN
ANTIDOTES
• Respiratory Control
• Neurological Care
• Cardiac Care
• Supportive Care
• IV Access
• Oxygen administration
• 12 Lead ECG
Monitoring
• Patient safety
• Continued Monitoring
20. Understanding Bath Salts
• Mephedrone
• Why are they called
Bath Salts?
• Are they Legal
• The Experience
21. The Experience
• Agitation
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Chest Pain
• Suicidal Ideation
• Hypertension
• Tachycardia
• Psychosis
There is no test for Bath Salts...
30. Nutmeg
• Smoked or Ingested in large quantities
• Effects that can last up to 3 days
• Hallucinations, voices
31. Inhaling Moth Balls!
• Hallucinations
• Naphthalene - The highly toxic
chemical that causes the
hallucinations
• N/V, Burning Eyes, Dyspnea, Diarrhea,
Anemia (Long term exposure),
Confusion, convulsions, coma
32. Nyquil & Cloricidin
• Nyquil & Triple “C”
• DXM, Skittles
• Effects achieved by intentional
overdose (8-16 Pills)
• Dextromethorphane
• Taken in large amounts causes a
person to hallucinate