A recently-released report shows that a new drug called Spice is having an impact at hospitals around the state.
A survey conducted by the Idaho Hospital Association (IHA) shows that of the 20 hospitals polled across the state, 11 had knowledge of the drug and more than 80 cases of suspected Spice overdoses occurred between February and August of 2010.
Spice is herbal incense, sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoid, and is being sold as a product not for human consumption, but is used by buyers to obtain a marijuana-like high. The inquiry was conducted on behalf of the Idaho Office of Drug Policy (ODP), which first alerted the news media and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare about the dangers of Spice, also known as K2, in late August when it called for a complete ban of the substance.
The ODP asked the IHA to conduct the survey on Spice to gauge its detriment to public health. An IHA staffer called emergency room personnel from 20 different hospitals in five different regions of the state.
The IHA found that one hospital in each of the five regions had treated at least on suspected case of Spice overdose within the six months. Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene reported treating one case, while Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls tallied 50 cases in the six-month time frame. St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise said it had treated between 10 and 20 Spice cases. Overall, the survey found that between 80 and 100 cases of suspected Spice overdoses have been handled by Idaho medical centers.
The IHA inquiry also found that emergency departments around the state might not be able to properly identify those patients who come in with after overdosing on Spice. As noted, nine of the 20 hospitals surveyed had no knowledge of the substance. One hospital in southwestern Idaho had multiple emergency department physicians respond to the inquiry, with mixed results. Of the six respondents for the hospital, four doctors had knowledge of the substance, while two physicians admitted to not knowing about the drug. One of the comments taken by the poll administrator asked for the IHA to e-mail out symptoms for identifying a Spice overdose for posting in emergency rooms.
Caitlyn Zak, aide for the ODP, initially asked for the ban because of its potential harm to health. Spice has several adverse side effects that can be extremely detrimental to one’s health, Zak explained. It can lead to nausea, vomiting, increased agitation, elevated blood pressure, seizures, and loss of consciousness. She noted that during research on the drug, she heard about users having terrible experiences from using it. “It was a horrible trip for them,” she said.
One reason the drug has grown in popularity is its ability to be undetectable to typical drug screens, which means those on parole and probation for drug offenses can still smoke the substance and not face penalty. Zak said that tests are on the market to detect the presence of Spice in the body, but that they are too expensive for everyday use.
State lawmakers with oversight on matters of public health are split on how to deal with the “Spice” problem. Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, believes that lawmakers should take up the issue in order to protect children. Another Canyon County legislator, Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, says individuals should be responsible for the substance they put in their own bodies and that government doesn’t need to get involved.
Canyon County prosecuting attorney John Bujak has promised to go after minors using the substance. Bujak says that state law preventing minors from using inhalants to get high will be used to prosecute minors. Twin Falls County is also examining a ban of the substance.
This Should be Banned asap. Enough Said
How many people were admitted to the hospital from alcohol related complications across the state of Idaho in the last 6 months? To take it a step further, how many people DIED from alcohol related complications in that time frame?
Fear mongering isn’t beneficial to anyone.
This is not fear mongering. I just came back from the hospital today after taking a bong hit of 75x strength Spice and it’s true it can kill you. Here are two people who died from it”
Mother dies after smoking spice:
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-spice-death-080410,0,1021879.story
Coroner’s office investigating possible link to “spice” in man’s death
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-death-may-be-linked-k2-051010,0,3426191.story
You’re right Robert, alcohol should also be banned
There is ZERO proof that “spice” is what killed these 2 people, how do you know it wasn’t something else in there system? Stop posting stuff you have no hard evidence of. Alcohol is more dangerous, just like the previous poster replied BUT NO ONE wants to BAN that.
[...] haven’t been any reported deaths in Idaho linked to overdose of Spice, but a survey recently released by the Idaho Hospital Association revealed more than 80 cases of physical ailments caused by the drug between February and August of [...]
[...] on Spice, including accounts of lawmakers being split on how to deal with the substance, the hospital survey being used as evidence against Spice, and the Idaho Board of Pharmacy beginning the process of outlawing the [...]
[...] survey of Idaho hospitals between February and August reported more than 80 emergency room visits in that six-month period. Spice is sold as an incense and “not for human consumption” as a means to avoid legal [...]
I dont think spice is no worse than tobacco. Ive been smoking spice everyday for several months now. And I have not had any side effects from but getten high. I think alot that goes to the hospital for spice overdose I think its all in there minds people freak out because they cant handle the high, in other words they smoke to much.
But i do think they need to put an age limit on it.
chris one there is an age limit its 18 just like any other tobacco and two please dont defend it saying you have had no problems with it when you can’t even speak or spell right doesnt help out the argument
are there any true cases of someone actually getting harmed from it?
Chris, there already is an age limit of 18 years old to buy it. You have to show your ID. The state does not need to get involved, and they need to examine their own ignorant, asinine statement that they want to ban it to “protect children”. You have to be 18 to get it, so that’s retarded.
Even then, though, this just goes to show that they need to (and could realistically) legalize real cannabis. It’s impossible to die from smoking the real thing. Consult every pharmaceutical commercial you see on TV that throws side-effects (including a risk of “death”) by you really fast, for drugs that are legal. The DEA and FDA don’t care if it’s safe- they care if they can make money off of it. I don’t know of a single confirmed case of spice actually itself killing or permanently harming anyone. None of the examples they give are ever scientifically verifiable (like somebody will have been taking spice AND cocaine), but the whole thing could be avoided if they just legalized good old, 100% safe marijuana.
And Lewis, that woman in your link was later determined NOT to have died from spice: http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x87453383/Middletown-woman-s-death-not-from-Spice
Stop posting yellow journalism. There’s a reason you don’t hear a single doctor or scientist on YOUR video that YOU posted of that woman’s death. A dumbass friend with no education and no training in science or medicine telling the local news that she FEELS her friend died from spice is not news. It’s propaganda. Yellow journalism. And no matter how much she loved her friend, loving her friend doesn’t cause her inaccurate, medically illiterate opinion to be true. And shame on that news station for passing that off as news.
I never smoked this spice drug but what matters to me is that younger kids are smoking this not knowing how strong it is and getting sent to the hospital unresponsive… This spice sounds worse than weed to me it should be illegal…
This is addressed to comment #2. So, you have no problem ingesting a grab bag of chemicals? Clearly your brain isn’t intelligent enough to want to protect itself. When there are 80 cases of overdosing from this substance and numerous reports nationwide of hospitalization from chemicals that are supposed to be used as a growth stimulant in plants, it is not considered to be “fear mongering”. True alcohol is a problem but at least you are fully aware of the toxins you are ingesting, unlike Spice. JWH-018 can be made in two simple steps, with four commercial products. What is wrong with your mind?
I have been smoking spice since July 2010. The stuff that contained the original five chemicals banned by the DEA in March 2011. I find this drug highly addictive, anyone who says they have not had any side effects is either lying or too afraid to say they smoked too much and almost over-dosed. Since smoking this stuff for a year I have found that at certain times I have had elevated heart rate at resting conditions as if I had just got done doing a heavy workout, chest pains, cold chills, shakes like tremors. I don’t believe it should be illegal considering yes you do have to be 18 to buy it. There is no need for the government to regulate this stuff and say were protecting our children. No if you are 18 and you are still considering yourself a child then obviously your not mature enough to handle the effects of a High. Alcohol has a much higher chance of death than anything out there. Just look back at the yearly statistics and ask this question how many people have been killed from drunk drivers? How many people have been killed from Marijuana or cases of DUI incidents that have involved marijuana? Now tell me which is more harmful to society and the body.
I smoked spice for the first time a couple weeks ago…and like most people i thought it was like marijuana so i took a few big hits…the effects took place within minutes…my trip just got worse and worse and i could only temporarily relieve it for a couple of seconds when i chugged water, if my girlfriend was not there to assure me everything would be ok i would have surely had a severe panic attack. I still smoke it and i think its alright as long as you dont over do it…find a good level, only smoke a little at a time, and NEVER smoke alone!