WHAT IS SPICE?
Decades ago, a television commercial ran that compared the taste virtues of margarine to those of sweeter, creamier butter. The taste tester is Mother Nature, who, deep in her lush forest surrounds, finds she prefers the taste of margarine to that of her own creation, which is butter.
Duped, and made a fool of, Mother Nature declares in anger, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” And with that Mother unleashes a thunderclap which begins a powerful storm.
In many ways, the same can be said for Spice.
Spice, which also goes by the name K2, is a synthetic form of marijuana that is more manufactured than grown. And Mother Nature doesn’t like it.
She couldn’t if she’s willing to let you die after smoking what’s basically fake weed.
Call it what you want: synthetic cannabis, fake pot, synthetic marijuana, legal weed, etc., what Spice isn’t is spice.
It’s not paprika, salt or pepper, though some Spice experts believe manufacturers of the drug want nonusers to believe so that they can produce Spice under the legal radar.
Well, so far it’s worked; most people haven’t a clue what Spice, or even synthetic cannabis is, particularly those who imbibe in natural marijuana.
Instead, this synthetic drug continues to affect millions of people throughout the world, though law enforcement, the medical community, and even the purveyors of recreational drug usage are collectively beginning to understand Spice’s dangers.
HOW CAN SPICE REHAB HELP?
While going through your recovery, a solid support group and a high quality rehabilitation center can be a great help.
Along with helping you quit, the full rehab experience will help you identify the triggers that could lead you to relapse. Once you know your trigger scenarios, you’ll be able to lean on your support group to help keep you on the path to recovery.
Yes, using Spice is a tough habit to give up. But, with dedication and hard work, you can achieve your goal of ditching Spice and start enjoying a drug-free lifestyle.
It’s not too late to take the first step toward a new life.
Most alcohol and drug treatment facilities fall under two categories: inpatient and outpatient.
SPICE INPATIENT REHAB
Although Spice has been recognized for its power, that’s about all anyone knows of the drug. How it is prepared and with what other materials makes Spice a chemical seems to have escaped many drug experts’ awareness.
Because so little is known about Spice, we feel it quite wise that a person detox and rehabilitate as an inpatient. At that rate, you will at least be monitored by a professional staff should unforeseen circumstances impede your recovery process.
INPATIENT VISITATIONS
If you plan to visit someone during his or her inpatient recovery, be sure to clear it with the patient’s counselor first, as it can affect the patient in different ways depending on how they are handling the recovery process.
If you decide to visit a patient during rehabilitation, be sure to do so when the patient if feeling positive and upbeat. Visiting a patient when they are struggling through the recovery process could be counterproductive.
SPICE OUTPATIENT REHAB
Spice is a newer drug, and in that, not thoroughly researched. We do know it is addictive, and in many cases, dangerous.
And although we do have a list of withdrawal symptoms one can experience while getting off Spice, the drug’s unpredictability and how it affects individuals is the most dangerous aspect of Spice. With this said, we suggest all outpatient rehabilitation concerning Spice should be for patients who are able to monitor their own detox and rehabilitation without the continual attention that is given to an inpatient.
If you choose to be an outpatient, be certain you have all pertinent information regarding your rehabilitation center, and your counselor/advisor in case you encounter difficulties with your rehab.
THE PROCESS FOR SPICE REHAB
Along with the mental and emotional toll addiction can take on a person, Spice can also initiate weight gain or loss, illness, injury, or other physical ailments.
Part of the rehabilitation process will include developing and maintaining positive physical health practices. This mean participating in low-impact, physical activities like yoga or stretching.
Along with the physical aspect of recovery, our programs also address the mental toll addiction can take on a patient.
Our rehab specialists help you learn to stay strong in your sobriety during holidays, birthdays, and other stressful situations. We help you understand which triggers cause you to seek Spice so you can avoid them. This includes analyzing when you first started using Spice and your usage patterns to find the cause of your dependence.
With as common as Spice addiction has become in our society, we know how to tailor a recovery plan for all types of individuals.
THE LENGTH OF SPICE TREATMENT
Because every situation is different, the treatment will vary in length from person to person. One person may require treatment for a month or more, but the next person may only require a few days. Every patient is different.
WHAT IS SPICE MADE FROM?
Natural marijuana gains its mind-altering effects from a chemical known as THC.
Synthetic marijuana, on the other hand, is coated with synthetic cannabinoids, which comprises 700 research chemicals. At this time, nearly 50 of these cannabinoids are regulated or outlawed within the United States.
As you can probably already tell, synthetic marijuana has nothing in common with natural marijuana.
In 2008, the scientific and law enforcement communities began to study what was actually contained in synthetic cannabis mixtures.
The study found that rather than being a simple combination of harmless herbs, such as canavalia maritima, leonotis leonurus, zornia latifolia and others, the product had in fact been sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids.
Not only did the synthetic pot have chemicals in it that the study had never encountered, the claim also cited that the label of “All Natural” appearing on the package and on the seller’s website, which was nothing close to the truth of the drug.
At any rate, even if these chemicals are not natural, they still have some similarities to natural cannabinoid found in marijuana, such as THC, though the manufactured THC in synthetic marijuana affect the brain receptors much differently.
Given this, synthetic cannabinoids can have an effect similar to THC. The danger is, some synthetic cannabinoids are 100X stronger than THC and many operate on other brain receptors, too.
The end result of this is a number of significant negative side effects including high blood pressure, blurred vision, heart attack, vomiting, seizures, hallucinations, and severe anxiety and paranoia.
Deaths have also been associated with use of the drug.
HOW ARE SYNTHETICS MANUFACTURED?
Synthetic cannabinoids are produced as an oil or a crystalline powder.
They are then sprayed on plant material or anything that looks like a plant, which in turn looks as if it can be smoked and provide a high.
Much of the Spice that infiltrates the US is produced in China and/or Russia.
For that reason, neither quality of the drug or its propensity to cause overdoses or kill users is given much thought.
In fact, no one producer (or producers) seem to follow any type of guidelines.
This can be seen through the plethora of chemicals that can vary from one batch of Spice to the next.
With that and other sloppy manufacturing methods used to produce Spice, the health risks of one batch of Spice may not be the same as another batch, which can make the drug extremely unpredictable to a user.
Some forms of Spice, particularly in the liquid form, may contain traces of synthetic psychedelics such as 2C-P, which can bring on a psychedelic high in addition to the natural-like high Spice is supposed to produce in a user.
DOES SPICE LOOK LIKE REGULAR MARIJUANA?
Because Spice is a spray that is applied to anything leafy and green, then yes, it can look like marijuana.
Spice can also appear as a liquid much in the same way THC appears when it’s extracted from marijuana plants.
HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE US HAVE FALLEN TO SPICE?
According to CBS News, more than 11,400 people attended the emergency room in 2010 due to the effects of Spice.
In 2015, the number of bad reaction reports to US Poison Control centers has tripled vs. 2014.
Most users are young and ignorant to the negative effects synthetic marijuana can have on them. Some have died from their first exposure to the drug.
IS SPICE ADDICTIVE?
Spice is extremely addictive, even deadly. The problem is only the end user of this drug knows that.
The rest of the medical community is too busy trying to figure out what exactly Spice is as an increasing number of recreational drug users upward to hardcore addicts who continuously put themselves at peril.
In short, America’s education of Spice is off to a harrowing start.
During the period 2009-2012, the US experienced a sharp rise in Poison Control Center calls, police calls and emergency room visits related to synthetic marijuana.
By 2012, synthetic weed had become the second-most abused drug in US high schools, according to the NIDA.
The side effects and withdrawal symptoms were becoming clear to public officials, so many cities and states began to ask for legal action.
And in April and August of 2015, the country experienced yet another outbreak of overdoses related to one of the newer street chemicals.
As for 2016, overdoses and deaths from Spice has spiked to even higher levels, particularly among the homeless and economically compromised.
If anything, a user should simply know that if they’re expecting a pot-like high from synthetic marijuana, and that it might “spice” up their experience with weed, that experience may not be something they’re prepared for.
No, not in the least.
PATIENT PRIVACY
Our Spice rehabilitation process holds a very high standard when it comes to Patient Health Information (PHI).
Fighting through the struggle of Spice recovery will be difficult enough, so our focus on privacy should help keep your mind at ease.
Take confidence in knowing that as you seek out your new pathway to sobriety, your PHI is safe with us.
HOW ARE PAYMENTS HANDLED
You are billed on a monthly basis. For a stay longer than 30 days, you are billed on a bi-weekly basis.
Remember, just like with the security of your Patient Health Information, we do the same for your payment information. For this reason, we don’t keep your credit card nor insurance records on file.
GOING AWAY FOR TREATMENT
No matter where you live, we have a treatment facility for your needs. Sometime what you really need is to get away.
Leaving town for treatment can often give you a clean slate that can be helpful in the recovery process. In completely new surroundings you can focus on yourself without any distractions.
In many cases, removing yourself from everything that’s familiar can set you up for success in your new sober life.
POST-REHABILITATION SUPPORT
Having a strong support group can greatly contribute to your long-term sobriety.
We try to help you establish a support group as part of our treatment programs.
The relationships you develop while in recovery can be part of that support network.
Sometimes the camaraderie of a good support group can make all the difference in a successful recovery.
Synthetic Spice is nothing like natural marijuana. It is highly addicting, and can lead to overdose or death. If you feel you or a loved one has an issue with this or other drugs, contact BLVD Treatment Centers. At BLVD Treatment Centers we custom tailor our recovery programs within the safe and nurturing confines of our rehab treatment centers. Located throughout California, in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and in Portland, OR, our mission is to assess the severity of your addiction to help you achieve true recovery within 30 days. Call us now at 1-888-537-6671.