Even today, the battle against illicit drug use rages on. Dealers and suppliers are getting smarter. New drugs on the street are packaged and peddled more creatively. For instance, they could be mixed into baked goods or candies Some of these drugs are also packaged in consumer goods packaging.
Brief Overview on the Evolution of Drugs
The use of drugs started in ancient times. But back then, these drugs existed in their natural forms, such as leaves, roots, and extracts.
For instance, in ancient Greek and Egyptian societies, doctors let patients eat poppy seeds to relieve pain. People who have trouble sleeping inhaled the fragrance of dried henbane leaves, popularly known as nightshade.
Over the years, drugs have evolved to include synthetic substances to augment their effects. These substances are not only harmful but can also lead to abuse and related complications in a short time.
Synthetic drug addiction can cause permanent damage to the body and the mind. Since these drugs are made in illicit laboratories, there are no official medical findings and research that can vouch for the safety of these drugs.
That’s why it’s important to be aware of these new drugs on the street and identify them for what they are regardless of the name used to market them.
10 Common Street Drugs That Reign Rampant Today
1. Bath Salts
This drug has nothing to do with easing muscle stiffness and cramps. Dealers and users call this drug plant food, white lightning, vanilla sky, and cloud nine. However, bath salts are a laboratory-made, designer drug that contains cathinone. They yield similar effects to amphetamines, including feelings of euphoria.
Bath Salts are white crystal-like powder. They are often delivered in special packaging labeled “plant food” or “jewelry cleaner.” From a medical perspective, bath salts yield more severe health problems than cocaine.
2. Molly
Molly is such a lovely name, but it’s also known as ecstasy. This drug is famous in nightclubs, raves, and music festivals. Because of its popularity, ecstasy is easily accessible, and teens on drugs might have tried molly as one of their first drugs. The U.S. Government classified molly as a Schedule I drug, which means that it has no medical benefit or it has a high potential for abuse.
As a stimulant, ecstasy will usually take around 15 minutes to kick off. It is famous for its psychedelic effects. That’s also a reason why it’s accessible even for teens.
3. Flakka
Just like Bath Salts, Flakka is a designer drug that contains cathinone. Others call it “gravel” because it looks like pale crystals. Flakka can cause hallucinations and paranoia. Users have many ways of ingesting it, including eating, snorting, and inhaling vapors.
Since it is a synthetic drug, Flakka has been linked to severe health problems and has caused heart attack and kidney damage.
4. Krokodil
Krokodil is a famous drug in Russia, but it has made its way to the U.S. New drugs on the street often come at a hefty price. However, krokodil is a famous and cheaper alternative to heroin. But even if it’s cheap, it’s ten times stronger than morphine. Krokodil is cheap because it’s a mixture of iodine, paint thinner, codeine, gasoline, and lighter fluid.
5. Mushrooms
Psilocybin is the active ingredient in this drug. In fact, “mushrooms” don’t look like drugs per se. It’s not a tablet, powder, or crystal. Instead, they simply look like dried mushrooms. They are also called “magic mushrooms” because they can cause euphoria. Users often mix magic mushrooms with tea, and it starts to take effect within 20 minutes. The feeling lasts for around six hours.
6. Salvia
Salvia is popular in Mexico. It‘s a herb that belongs to the mint family. Others call it Maria Pastora, Diviner’s Sage, Magic Mint, and Sally-D. Salvia gives hallucinogenic effects that can start within five to 10 minutes of ingestion. However, the feeling is not long-lived as it usually lasts 30 minutes. The DEA has not yet flagged salvia as a dangerous drug and there is little research about its health effects.
7. China Girl
This drug sounds like a David Bowie hit, but it’s a fancy name for a drug that contains fentanyl. This drug is a synthetic opioid intended for pain management treatments of cancer patients. It’s 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and it is abused to induce intense and short-term feelings of euphoria. Overdose of fentanyl can lead to seizures and even death.
8. Spice
The difference between drugs then and now is not strikingly different as some users still use the old methods in crafting drugs just like spice. There’s no chemical process involved in making spice because it’s just a mixture of herbs and man-made chemicals. Others call it “fake weed,” but it has no direct relationship with marijuana. The DEA is uncertain what chemicals and herbs are present in spice because variations exist in different cases.
9. Speedball
One of the greatest dangers of synthetic drugs is the exploration of mixtures in illegal laboratories. Speedball is an example of a synthetic drug that’s a mixture of heroin and cocaine. Ingestion involves injecting the substances into the bloodstream or snorting.
Speedball yields a more intense experience, but it can cause permanent damage to the body. This drug can cause stroke, heart attack, and aneurysm when taken in uncontrolled amounts.
10. Blind Squid
Known scientifically as ketamine, blind squid is used as a general anesthetic and an antidepressant. Ketamine can cause hallucinations and short-term memory loss. It also induces loss of consciousness. That’s why it’s used as a date-rape drug.
Patients who don’t respond to prescribed depression treatment may qualify for ketamine usage, but only if prescribed by a health professional. Research says that it can improve depression.
Find drug addiction treatment at Restore Health and Wellness Center
Recovering from synthetic drug addiction requires professional care. Restore Health and Wellness Center offers a lineup of drug addiction treatments and therapy services. Patients can enroll for inpatient programs, outpatient treatment, or even partial hospitalizations.
Learn more about our therapies and programs and ask our experts for the best treatment for your needs. Contact us at (818) 351-1853 to connect with our 24/7 admission hotline.
