Corrections_Today_May_June_2019

Correctional Health Perspectives

create an “herbal” smoking product. It can likewise be turned into liquid to be vaporized and inhaled. Most of these products are illegal in the U.S. and their sale and possession are banned in most states. While originally marketed as safe and cheap, K2 has become a “cocktail” of many different types of drugs, which makes it extremely diffi- cult for the user to know exactly what they are ingesting. K2 is considered much more dan- gerous than marijuana and has been shown to be highly addictive. Minor effects of K2 use include euphoria — the effect that many users are seeking — but can also include agitation, heart palpitations and sweating. More serious effects of K2 use include unpredictable behavior, psychotic symptoms, heart attacks, coma and permanent brain damage. It is espe- cially troublesome in a correctional environment because common field test kits, canines and routine urine tests are not able to detect all cannabi- noids, as formulations are frequently changed to make it difficult for law enforcement to detect. Inmates exposed to K2 are a danger to correc- tions staff and to their fellow inmates due to uncontrollable behaviors such as assaults on inmates and staff. 3

over time can cause intense paranoia, leading to delusions, aggression and suicidal ideation; the individual may suffer a break from reality leading to psychosis and many serious health problems leading to death. 4 Some individuals have committed suicide or displayed extremely aggres- sive behaviors including cannibalism when ingesting this drug. According to B. Nolan in “Psychology Today,” “Bath salts and the like have never been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration because the compo- nents were not recognized as food or drugs.” 5 Now that they are banned, bath salts join the ranks of drugs such as ecstasy, synthetic marijuana and methamphetamine. Synthetic opioids Opioids are another class of drugs that are significantly abused within the corrections environment. Accord- ing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 100 percent increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids in the U.S. from 2015-2016. 6 While mostly anecdotal, jails and prisons are noting a rise in opioid- related deaths that seem to mirror these trends in the community at large. Opioids work by depressing the central nervous system which controls critical functions such as breathing and heartbeat. When slightly depressed, heart and breath rates slow and the individual may experience sensations of relaxation

U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter

have been sold both online and in drug paraphernalia shops under a va- riety of benign names, including blue silk, bubbles, drone, red dove, zoom, vanilla sky, bloom and meph. They are considered addictive and often lead to symptoms such as significant paranoia and even hallucinations and psychotic breaks. Bath salts can linger in the system for long periods of time — up to days or weeks after use because of their chemical properties. The drugs that are sold as bath salts are typically mephedrone, Methylenedioxypyrova- lerone (MDPV) and methylone, each can be abused individually or in com- bination. MDPV is dose dependent and has effects like those associated with other amphetamines, including euphoria, elevated mood, rapid heart rate and breathing, elevated body temperature, confusion and mental and physical stimulation. Large doses

Bath salts

Bath salts are marketed as plant food, jewelry cleaner, insect repellant and research chemicals. Bath salts are a byproduct of cathinones and carry a significant risk for overdose. They

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