Sixty-seven phone calls. That’s how many terrified people called the Regional Poison Control Center at Children’s of Alabama between October 2010 and September 2011, worried about the symptoms their children were experiencing.
And by children is meant kids between the ages of 6 and 12 years old, as well as teens and those in their early twenties. Six. Isn’t that an age when a child should be excited about learning to read and kick a ball and play a team sport? Isn’t that when a child should be excited about seeing a favorite TV show and spending some time with his mom or dad playing a game?
These kids are trying a substance often called “Spice” or “K2.” It’s not quite illegal, but it brings about a “high” that causes kids to want to come back to it. They can buy it readily on the shelves of some stores, or online. This psychoactive herbal and chemical compound acts like marijuana in more ways than one.
"This is an emerging and dangerous designer drug which has the potential of destroying lives," said Dr. Donald Williamson, a state health officer. "We want to explore the best solutions to prevent its misuse."
Many states have already outlawed this item. Alabama is a little behind the times on this one, although it has been in the news for about a year.
It’s made by blending some herbs and coating them with a synthetic chemical that is like the natural substance in marijuana that causes the “high.” The chemicals stimulate the brain.
From those 67 phone calls, 56 were treated for toxic exposure in the hospital emergency rooms. The other callers did not go.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, more than 6,700 calls were made to poison control centers in that time period, all regarding Spice type problems. Some had hallucinations, nausea, and vomiting. Others had paranoia and increased heart rate.
If there wasn’t an upsurge of ER calls, then the DEA wouldn’t be so concerned. It’s time that the Alabama Department of Public Health follow in the footsteps of several other states and several branches of the Armed Forces who have banned its use. There are already problems and we don’t even know what the long-range effects might be.
A hearing was held on September 19, 2011 at the State Capitol Auditorium in Montgomery. More comments from the public on this topic will be helpful in getting it out of the stores and off of the streets, away from those who don’t seem to be able to make good choices.
