Consequences of using, storing and selling spice smoking mixtures and responsibility for such actions

A person needs pleasure; without it, life seems joyless and unnecessary. The only thing to be happy is a job well done, a child’s smile, a beautiful sunset. Others prefer “easy” pleasure, which intoxicates the brain and deceives the consciousness.

People can sometimes be extremely inventive in their efforts to make money from someone else’s addiction. Drugs collectively called “spice” are a prime example of this.

What it is?

“Spice” is not the only name of the drug that will be discussed. This psychoactive substance has a lot of names: “legal”, “speed”, “salt”. Spices appeared on sale under the guise of smoking mixtures, incense, bath salts, fertilizers, poison for garden pests, and also under mysterious names like “Excess.”

Spice is smoked, mixed into drinks, food, or simply chewed. The ease of use helped the drugs spread: no syringes, no searching for a vein, and so on.

According to some reports, spice was accidentally discovered in the United States during laboratory research. Experts have studied various cannabinoids. Some of them are considered very promising in the treatment of many diseases: some prevent the death of nerve cells, others fight chemical dependencies.

As a result, analogues of plant cannabinoids were synthesized. The consequences were terrifying. Artificial “hemp” has proven itself to be a powerful drug, the full spectrum of effects of which is still not fully understood. In just a few years, spice has become the favorite “fun” of American high school students, failing to surpass natural marijuana in popularity. Meanwhile, the new “dope” set off on a journey to all countries, not passing through Russia.

At the end of the 2000s, our country was literally inundated with supposedly soft and legal drugs. Spice was promoted as a completely safe, not prohibited way to “get high.” Distributors claimed: no dependence is detected during analysis, and in general, the components of the mixtures are not prohibited.

Only a few years later, doctors, authorities and legislators realized: it was time to take action, and urgently. Spice components have begun to be included in the list of prohibited substances. We are talking not only about synthetic cannabinoids, but also about auxiliary plant components. Thus, plants such as fortune teller sage or Hawaiian rose were banned. This is not only Russian, but also global practice.

However, spice producers immediately responded: after some chemical compounds were banned, others immediately appeared on the market, similar, but not yet officially studied and therefore allowed. And this game of catch-up has been going on for several years now.

The following video will tell you in more detail about the features and negative consequences of consuming spice:

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Article prepared by an expert

Terekhova Anna Vladimirovna

psychologist-consultant on socio-psychological work with addicted clients and their families. More than 9 years of experience.

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2 comments on “Spice: what is it, the effect and consequences of use”

1. Vasya:

   March 5, 2021 at 00:17

   experimentation. Beginning drug addicts experiment with taking drugs of various groups, thus searching for the one that is most suitable for them. direct use in society. Spice and similar drugs are used in groups of like-minded people.

   Answer

2. Dmitriy:

   March 27, 2021 at 00:20

   Spice has a detrimental effect on the body. As a result of Spice consumption, blood pressure increases, memory, attention and mental abilities in general deteriorate. There are frequent cases of unreasonable panic after consuming Spice. The effect of this smoking mixture is in many ways similar to the effect of hard drugs. And the worst thing is that Spice can be addictive, accompanied by so-called withdrawal symptoms. When talking about the harmlessness of Spice, people are deceiving themselves. Smoking Spice has great harm on the human body, especially young people.

   Answer

Negative consequences for a smoker

Meanwhile, the negative consequences of consuming spice are already well known. The impact is aimed primarily at the psyche. Here are just some of the effects:

• the perception of the environment is disrupted (everything is distorted, voices are heard, visions appear);
• reactions to external influences disappear;
• the ability to concentrate and orientate in space is lost;
• self-control disappears.

Under the influence of spice, sometimes the important instinct of self-preservation atrophies. For example, in 2009, a completely prosperous and absolutely healthy teenager simply stepped from the balcony on the eighth floor because “voices called” (the brother of the deceased spoke about this).

Depending on the general condition of a person, even a single use of spice can cause irreparable changes in the psyche. Schizophrenia is a very common side effect of drug addiction. The next chapter will tell you about the symptoms and signs of spice use.

Signs of human ingestion

16 – 25 years old: it is at this age that people most often use spice. Addiction can form very quickly; treatment must be thorough and consistent. However, the addict himself almost never goes to the doctor, so identifying addiction is the task of loved ones.

It is not difficult to recognize a person who is under the influence of spice:

• increased motor activity (movements are often meaningless and unnecessary),
• inappropriate reactions
• hallucinations,
• an unfocused look is the most likely reaction.

If drug intoxication has already passed, you should be wary of the consequences. Usually this is incoherent speech, a violation of logic, redness of the sclera and skin, and clumsiness in movements.

The following video will tell you about the signs of taking spice, as well as how to deal with the problem:

How to protect your child from smoking spice

Prevention is much more effective if the child grows up in a normal family, and does not belong to a dysfunctional family with parents who drink or use drugs. But the positive example of mom and dad is not always a model for following the example of parents. Sometimes this provokes an unconscious protest against the correct life of the parents.

In this case, a good solution would be to visit the nearest clinic where drug addicts are treated, or to a psychiatric clinic or a department for drug addicts. Only the spectacle of what a drug addict turns into can frighten and turn him away from the potion.

The work of returning a drug addict to a normal state is very complex and multi-stage. Spice treatment is carried out with the participation of psychologists, teachers, doctors, and loved ones of the patient. Various medications are used in treatment, which also negatively affects the health of yesterday’s drug addict. Therefore, it is much more important to prevent the development of an addiction to smoking mixtures or using any other types of drugs by any means available.

Does it fall under 228?

Here the answer is clear: yes. Synthetic cannabinoids are included in the list of prohibited substances, which was approved in October 2012 and is constantly being updated.

In addition, in Article 228, as well as in many other legislative acts, one can find references to analogues of narcotic substances, as well as the term “new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances.” This clause makes it possible to make the fight against spice more effective.

Read on to find out what punishment awaits a person under the article for the use, storage, and distribution of spice in Russia.

Conclusion

Spice is a dangerous drug, because after the first use there are no withdrawal symptoms, which inspires confidence, and the fear of becoming a drug addict fades into the background. However, as the frequency of use increases, a mental dependence is formed, which no longer allows one to give up the smoking mixture. Next, physical dependence is formed - it is impossible to quit the drug on your own, since attempts to “get off” it are accompanied by severe “withdrawal.” Spice inhibits all body functions, causes severe mental disorders, depletion of physical health, leads to personality degradation and death.

Criminal and administrative liability for the use, storage and distribution of spice

It all depends on what exactly a person does with spice. Criminal liability is assigned for possession, distribution (officially called sales), and production of drugs.

• The severity of the punishment under Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation depends on the size of the seized batch of spice, that is, on the weight of the drugs. The punitive range is very wide: fines, restriction of freedom, prohibition of holding positions, prison sentences up to life (possible in especially large parties, as well as when the crime is classified under several articles at once).
• You won't go to jail for using spice. Here responsibility comes under the Code of Administrative Offences, usually Article 6.9, but Articles 20.20 and 20.22 (Drug use in public places or by minors) can be applied.
• Liability under the Code of Administrative Offenses usually means fines of no more than five thousand rubles. For minor offenders, parents will pay three times less.

However, spice consumers in most cases punish themselves. And much more terrible than state judges can do. Loss of personality, personal “I”, disability, impotence and infertility, madness - this is the price that every spice lover may one day pay for his desire for undeserved pleasures.

The following video will tell you more about responsibility for the use of spice in a specific case from practice:

Overdose

Abusing spice in large dosages, smoking a drug of dubious quality, or combining it with other psychostimulants or alcohol leads to an overdose. Poisoning occurs with severe symptoms:

• weakness, apathy;
• pallor, blue circles under the eyes;
• nausea, vomiting;
• dizziness, loss of consciousness;
• chills, cold sweat;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• shallow breathing;
• increased heart rate.

If signs of spice poisoning appear, you must call an ambulance, and then take the necessary measures to maintain the life of the victim.

Intoxication delirium due to the use of synthetic cannabinoids was diagnosed in 14 (35%) patients. The clinical picture of intoxication delirium was characterized by disturbances of consciousness (delirious, twilight) lasting from several hours to 2–3 days, psychomotor agitation, aggression, shouting of individual phrases and words, anxiety, and fear. True visual hallucinations of frightening content (“strangers with weapons in military uniform”) were revealed. At the stage of symptom reduction, loss or partial memories of psychotic experiences were noted.

Ivanova L. A., Terskikh T. V., Tarasenko T. V., Ivanova L. V. Psychotic disorders in persons using synthetic cannabinoids (spice) // Acta Biomedica Scientifica. 2021. No. 2 (114).

First aid

If the victim is conscious, all possible measures must be taken to cleanse the body of spice toxins. To do this, you can induce vomiting, give a lot of liquids and sorbents to drink. It is imperative to monitor that the drug addict does not lose consciousness; to do this, it is enough to maintain a conversation, provide an influx of fresh air by opening the window.

If the victim has lost consciousness, you should open the window, lay him on a flat surface, turning his head to the side. This will help prevent vomit from blocking the airways. You also need to regularly check your breathing and pulse before emergency help arrives. If respiratory and cardiac activity stops, perform indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration.

Health care

After medical assistance arrives, the main task of doctors is to transport the victim, normalize blood pressure, and stop vomiting. In a hospital, for moderate and severe forms of poisoning, the victim is placed in an intensive care ward, and for mild intoxication, care is provided in a general ward. For these purposes, the following activities are carried out:

• Detoxification is aimed at cleansing the body of toxins and metabolites of psychoactive substances. The patient is prescribed intravenous infusions of glucose solution, sodium hypochlorite, and vitamins. To prevent cerebral edema, diuretics and magnesium sulfate solution are used. To maintain the body and its functions, vitamin and mineral complexes, hepatoprotectors, and nootropics are prescribed. If there are contraindications or ineffectiveness of drug detoxification, hardware methods of blood purification are used.
• Symptomatic therapy. The drug addict is prescribed beta blockers and antiarrhythmics to normalize blood pressure and heart rhythm. When seizures occur, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, and anticonvulsants are used. To relieve swelling, as well as eliminate signs of allergic reactions, antihistamines and glucocorticoids are used.

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Consequences of lack of help

Lack of assistance to a victim of spice poisoning can provoke:

• blockage of the respiratory tract with vomit with respiratory arrest;
• convulsions;
• tongue retraction;
• stroke;
• heart attack;
• heart failure.

Such conditions are dangerous, as without help they lead to death.

Lethal dose

It is impossible to accurately determine the lethal dosage of spice, since this indicator depends on the health characteristics of the drug addict, the presence of chronic diseases, metabolic rate, and the sensitivity of cannabinoid receptors. Also, the danger of spice is due to the presence of various chemical impurities that affect the body differently.

It is generally accepted that 500 mg of spice smoked within 24 hours is fatal.