Synthetic Marijuana Causes Fear Among Young People Who Tried It, Survey Says

Synthetic marijuana has sparked fear among young Australians who have tried the drug. Surveys reveal that those who have used synthetic cannabis reported experiencing side effects such as panic attacks, seizures, vomiting and paranoia.

An online survey conducted by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) asked synthetic cannabis users about their experiences with the illegal substance. Of the 1700 participants aged 18 to 25 involved in the survey, 1100 of them have already tried synthetic drugs.

Sixty-five percent admitted that they have tried synthetic marijuana even though they already know of the risks. The survey also reports that the substance elicits powerful effects that 75 percent of the respondents said they wouldn’t want to use the drug again. The young people from Australia have shared their unpleasant experiences and most of them agreed that it seemed as if they are going to die.

The survey results were appalling and it is something that NPCIC director Jan Copeland has never seen in her 20 years of cannabis research. She said that young people are usually unconvinced when it comes to warnings on the use of drugs given by the government and universities.

“Hopefully this kind of information from an experienced group of their peers will get the message out that this is a group of drugs that you just really don't want to go anywhere near," she said.

Copeland said that synthetic cannabis contains unknown chemicals applied on the plants before they are packaged and distributed. “They're synthetic chemicals, they aren't legal, they aren't safe.” The unknown chemicals can cause poisoning, heart failure and brain swelling and have been known to cause several deaths in Australia as well.

She also emphasized that synthetic cannabis is not related to the plant in any way. “It's so important to get out the message that these are not cannabis-related drugs,” said Copeland. Although the drug works the same way as marijuana, Copeland warns that it is 100 times more potent and is potentially dangerous.

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