There are a pair of designer drugs ripping through our youth and thus our very homes.  There are two groups of abusers that bring vastly different mindsets to the consumption of these drugs.

Spice, K2, synthetic marijuana; this drug has been grabbing all the headlines lately, particularly here in Oakland County.  Also known by a variety of street names [Blaze, Dream, Aroma, Eclipse, and Red Dawn] this still-legal substance is ubiquitous; sold over-the-counter at gas stations and party stores.

What is spice?  Mostly natural organics [vanilla, lotus and blue rose] mixed with a laboratory compound designed to duplicate THC.  The drug is particularly dangerous to our youth because the primary ingredient binds tightly with the cannabis receptors in their still developing brains.

There is no question that kids use spice because they crave the high.

Tied to two springtime suicides, and through association with Oakland County's patricide du jour, municipalities are racing to outlaw this substance of many names.

Quickly drafted bills are now instantly pending in Lansing.  Last week, in a largely symbolic gesture, the Oakland County Board of Commissions passed a resolution supporting the criminalization of synthetic marijuana.  All the while, party store owners race to unload their inventory onto the suburban streets.  

More subtly, another designer drug has been sneaking into our schools.  Many young academic overachievers are increasing their focus, and attempting to gain an edge on exams by ingesting a variety of amphetamines and other stimulants designed to alleviate the effects of attention deficit disorder.  Adderall, Ritalin, and Focalin, all used to treat the disorder, are among the most addictive substances with legitimate medical uses.

Not long ago these drugs were mostly ingested by college students pulling all-nighters trying to prepare for multiple exams.  Now, they are beginning to trickle down to high school honor students cramming for multiple AP finals.  At least so reported the Sunday NYT; above-the-fold, at that.

[My college-aged daughter, now a Sophomore at the Ohio State University, shared with me that many of her fellow-students took stimulants when preparing for, and during, their final exams.]

Unlike spice, the ADHD drugs are not ingested for the high but rather, for their stimulating effect on the brain; for creating what the NYT article described as, "a laser focus, instant recall, and the ability to crush any test in [the user's] path."  Wow, sounds great!

But, just as in the case of spice, it is an addictive crutch; a false-promise; a potential launchpad for prescription pain pill abuse.  At some point, these students will have to produce, to perform, without their crutch.  And then what...

So while the motivations may be different, the fact remains that drug abuse is drug abuse.  We must teach our children to rely on themselves; to avoid pills and look within.  Whether hatched from boredom or forged from the will to succeed, it is that craving for a magic elixir, for a little something extra, that once again permeates our youthful culture.

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Waterford Judge Jodi Debbrecht

This is a guest blog post from 51st District Judge Jodi Debbrecht in Waterford, MI. 

Dickie Sanders was a relatively normal teenager – interested in BMX bikes, student, goals, dreams. However, Dickie died from using bath salts.

While at home he had a psychotic episode as a result of using bath salts and was “seeing” fire engines and police cars in multitude arrive at his home.  He was screaming to his father who was in the kitchen of their home with Dickie.

Suddenly, as Dickie was counting cars, he reached down and grabbed a butcher knife and slit his throat open.

Dickie’s parents are both doctors; doctors who knew nothing about Spice, K2 or bath salts. They rushed him to the hospital after triaging him themselves where he was treated and sent home for care.

Less than 24 hours later, while in his bedroom, Dickie suffered another psychotic episode as a result of using bath salts and killed himself.

Many, many more stories just like this one abound.  And many, many stories similar to this one have occurred in our local communities.

Every day in my courtroom, young adults are admitting to using spice/K2, bath salts or other synthetic substances. No matter what you call them, they are killing our youth and the parents who appear to support their children are left with no answers, just left to wonder, what is this stuff?

Spice/K2, bath salts are essentially materials that are infused with chemical compounds that cause hallucinations, erratic behavior, disorientation, nausea, and even death. The symptoms are not limited to these noted here. Spice/K2 and bath salts (or similar substances) are technically illegal in Michigan.  However, they continue to be sold because as soon as the legislature identifies a chemical compound as a controlled substance thereby making it illegal, the individuals making the chemical change the compound.

The new compound is not listed as one that is illegal because it no longer fits the definition as defined in the statute for an illegal substance. Furthermore, Spice/K2 and bath salt use is on the rise because it becomes increasingly difficult to test for, is relatively inexpensive and easily accessible.

An immediate and viable way to stop the use of this new drug is to get people to stop selling it. In order to get people to stop selling it, we must raise awareness of the critical nature of this issue. Together we can stop the use and sale of this insidious substance.

Only together can we win the war against synthetic drugs – or any drugs. Informational meetings are being held throughout your community to provide you with information about this toxic substance.

Get the answers. Get the facts. Get armed to save our youth. Saying I didn’t know will not bring our young adults back from potentially irreparable damage, even death.

For more information, please see the links contained on my website: www.JudgeJodi2012.com.

Thanks Judge Jodi for putting the spotlight on this issue that has cropped-up among our children and their friends.

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