A drug detoxification program is the backbone of any drug rehabilitation facility. Drugs and other substances can leave residues that can continue to affect a person long after they have stopped using the substance, such as synthetic cannabis, also known as K2, Spice, and a host of other names it is marketed by. K2/Spice first appeared in Europe in 2005 after a study on cannabinoid receptors in the brain showed that THC could be synthesized. The drug itself is simply plant material that is sprayed with the synthetic THC amongst a handful of other chemicals, which are many times unknown.
The high purity levels of the chemicals are what make them potentially more dangerous than marijuana. Some studies have shown the levels to 200 times that of marijuana, and because of that intensity, the effects last longer, but are slower to develop. Often this causes users to use too much of the substance, and it creates emergency situations, as has been shown in the United States military and in emergency rooms across the United States. Since 2010 the American Association of Poison Control has received over 4,500 calls related to Spice/K2 usage. It has been reported that use of the drug can cause a variety of ailments, including paranoia, anxiety attacks, depression, elevated heart rate, convulsions, disorientation, as well as nausea, hallucinations, and vomiting. Vendors of the substance have so far avoided prosecution, because it was marketed as incense or potpourri and marked as not intended for human consumption. However, that is beginning to change as many states have enacted laws against synthetic cannabis, and in March of 2011 the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officially banned synthetic marijuana and the compounds used to make it and raised its status to a Schedule 1 substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no medical benefit. The United States Armed Forces banned all use and possession of the substance after several incidents involving service members came to light.
The Navy revealed that as many as 17 members had been admitted to the San Diego Naval Medical Center after complications arose after using synthetic cannabinoids, such as Spice/K2. The Air Force also announced disciplinary actions for 30 of its members after an internal investigation revealed usage of Spice/K2. As with any substance abuse, treatment for synthetic cannabinoids should include a drug detoxification program, as is found at the Freedom Center.
Toxins from substance abuse – especially substances with heavy chemical concentrations, such as methamphetamine and synthetic cannabis – can remain trapped in the fatty tissue of a person’s body. The process of detoxifying a person is achieved through long sessions in a dry sauna where a person can literally sweat out the toxins. Combined with proper diet, exercise, and vitamin and mineral supplementation, a person can purge themselves of the chemical residue left behind by substance abuse. In this manner the drug detoxification program at the Freedom Center helps people rid themselves of lingering drug cravings and side effects of drug abuse. The Freedom Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help those suffering from addiction and can be reached at 1-877-362-9682.
