The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that there military is contending with an epidemic of drug use involving “Spice” and “Bath Salts”, synthetic cannabinoids.
The military, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Congress and state lawmakers are scrambling to get a handle on drug compounds that are easily obtained, can easily be modified to keep them legal and are readily available in stores and on the Internet.
“The number of incidents of designer drug usage is rising at an alarming rate in our Navy,” Adm. John C. Harvey, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said in January.
In the four months before his statement, 72 Pacific Fleet sailors had been accused of using or possessing the drugs. The Navy said in February that it was discharging 16 sailors on the Norfolk, Va.-based amphibious assault ship Bataan for using or dealing in Spice.
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The Air Force said there have been six Spice cases at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam resulting in nonjudicial punishment and/or administrative discharge since January, compared with two Spice cases in 2010. Hickam did not have any Spice cases before 2010, officials said.
The military is a big customer for Spice and Bath Salts.
Hawaii’s Natural High shop owner Greg Azus said he doesn’t sell synthetic drugs, but he gets one or two military members a day stopping by his Waikiki store asking for them.
“It’s consistent,” Azus said. “It’s like I know what they are going to ask.” He added that “you can pretty much tell” the individuals are in the military because of their short hair and appearance.
He said that he probably gets as many requests these days for Bath Salts as for Spice.
These drugs have been linked to a number of bizarre crimes and violent acts:
Schofield Barracks soldier Spc. Bryan Roudebush smoked the designer drug “Spice” and then beat his girlfriend and tried to throw her off an 11th-floor balcony in Waikiki.
He said in court he didn’t remember what happened that night in April 2010.
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The high that individuals are seeking from the drugs also can bring a raft of serious side effects, including anxiety attacks, rapid heart rate, vomiting, disorientation, hallucinations, paranoia and suicidal thoughts, and some alarming behavior has followed.
In one case a man in Mississippi got high on Bath Salts, hallucinated and repeatedly sliced his face and stomach with a skinning knife.
David Rozga, 18, of Iowa killed himself after using K2 purchased at a mall.
Hi I wood like u to know that spice is just like pot And the bath salts are like Molly or MDMA but they are man made I tried a bath sAlt once and it was horrible experience it made me feel like shit and I fend for it like it was cocaine I think they “the government” should legal leyes pot and that wood make it easier on w
Every one