Synthetic Drugs

Main Points

• Emergency physicians are seeing an alarming increase in the number of patients being treated for synthetic (chemically enhanced) drug use. Sixty percent are ages 25 or younger.
  The synthetic drug problem is getting worse, and young people are dying.
• In 2010, poison centers nationwide responded to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic marijuana and bath salts. In 2011, that number jumped to more than 13,000 calls. The trend is expected to continue.
• Harmful effects include impaired perception, reduced motor control, extreme paranoia and violent episodes. These drugs can be highly addictive.
• ACEP advocated for legislation (S.3187) to ban some chemicals that are currently, and legally, sold in the United States — it was signed into law in 2012. This is an important step forward, but more government intervention is needed. Emergency medicine is essential to America, providing lifesaving and critical care to millions of patients each year. 

Synthetic Drug Fact Sheet