Synthetic drugs are created using man-made chemicals. A class of synthetic drugs known as “designer drugs” include synthetic marijuana (“Spice” or “K2”), synthetic stimulants (“Bath Salts”) and “N-bomb”. These are chemically made versions of illegal drugs that have been slightly altered to avoid classification as illegal, allowing dealers to make profits on the Internet or in stores without technically breaking the law. When a designer drug becomes illegal, the chemist alters it again. This repeats over and over. Because the chemicals used constantly change, users have no way of knowing the content and effects.

Short‑term Effects:

Hallucinations and delusions, confusion and disorientation, psychosis, suicidal thoughts or suicide, extreme agitation and anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, violent behavior, unresponsiveness, loss of consciousness. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, high fever, kidney malfunction, heart attack, bleeding in the brain.

Long‑term Effects:

Long-term permanent effects can include kidney damage and failure, liver damage, seizures, brain swelling and brain death, tremors, extreme tiredness, insomnia, forgetfulness and confusion, paralysis, persistent and severe anxiety and depression, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, death.