Air Force officials warn: 'Spice' harmful to health, career

News > Air Force officials warn: 'Spice' harmful to health, career

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Air Force officials warn: 'Spice' harmful to health, career

Posted 2/11/2011

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by Master Sgt. Amaani Lyle
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

2/11/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A recent spate of incidents involving service members abusing the herbal mixture "spice" has prompted uniformed service leaders to stress the ramifications of using the drug and other prohibited substances, officials said here Feb 11.

Marketed and sold as incense, and closely resembling potpourri, spice, also known as K2, skunk, or fake marijuana, is among many "designer drugs" banned under Department of Defense directive 1010-3.4 and Air Force Instruction 44-120.

Air Force leaders said they want to send a clear message about the health and career gambles associated with the drug, as indicated by the service's zero tolerance policy regarding illegal substance use or possession.

Air Force officials recently updated AFI 44-120 (http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI44-120.pdf) and issued an updated guidance memorandum for AFI 44-121(http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI44-121.pdf ) revising the Military Drug Demand Reduction Program and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, respectively.

The revision prohibits the ingestion of any substance, other than alcohol or tobacco, for the purpose of altering mood or function. The possession of any intoxicating substance, if done with the intent to use in a manner that would alter mood or function, is also prohibited. The regulation also states that Airmen using spice could be found in violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, face dishonorable discharge, confinement for two years, and total forfeiture of all pay and allowances. Enlisted members also face reduction to the lowest enlisted grade.

Air Force medical professionals assert the health risks associated with spice should also spur Airmen to avoid the drug since manufacturing of the substance is not closely controlled and its ingredients can be unknown and dangerous.

Published reports on the Drug Enforcement Agency (http://www.justice.gov/dea/index.htm) web site cite that spice contains HU-210 -- a synthetic cannabinoid hundreds of times more potent than THC -- or tetrahydrocannibinol, the main psychoactive substance in marijuana. DEA studies also showed spice to contain a high quantity of other synthetic chemicals, indicating a user may not realize what is being introduced into the body.

"The lack of body control and inability to make any logical decisions to include issues of health and safety could cause severe bodily harm or death," said Dr. Aaron Jacobs, Air Force drug testing program manager.

While the long-term effects of spice are currently unknown because of the its relative newness, Dr. Jacobs said the drug's impact on the body may be as severe as its known short-term effects.

"Spice can cause disorientation, vomiting, loss of motor control, hallucinations, an out-of-body feeling, rapid-heart rate and seizures," he said. "Some individuals report that the intense feelings are so troubling that they will never do spice again."

The NIDA website (http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Spice.html) also reports that in December 2010, the DEA issued a notice that it intends to ban five synthetic cannabinoids by placing them in Schedule I status under the Controlled Substances Act and expect to issue the final order shortly.

Schedule I status indicates the DEA considers the substance to have high-abuse potential and no known medical benefits; as such, it is illegal to possess or sell products that contain the substance.

Comments

2/23/2011 10:22:07 AM ET
If marijuana was simply legalized then synthetic forms of it like spice would not be an issue. Some of the comments here make me laugh. It is quite obvious some of you dont actually know what you are talking about so you decided to just spew the standard propaganda about Marijuana. @bigdaddybombs NC: you act like a stoner is the worst thing ever, but an alcoholic is much much worse. And yet the Air Force allows alcoholics. Also if marijuana was legal a responsible user would not go to work stoned just like responsible drinkers do not show up to work drunk. Marie Ellsworth AFB SD you are just an idiot. Anything smoked causes carbon monoxide and any form of inhaled smoke can cause tar buildup. However, Marijuana is nowhere close to as unhealthy or unsafe as tobacco. Cigarettes have more than 4000 chemicals and additives added to the tobacco, many of which are added to improve taste and make the smoke easier to be inhaled.

Do your own research, and discover the truth.

2/16/2011 5:11:00 PM ET
Jerry...you are saying the use of alcohol is ok in terms of duty hours and not using it while on duty. you say you wouldn't want your doctor on drugs doing a vasectomy. If certain drugs were legalized, what makes you think they would always be on drugs? i think your idea is misconstrued. Your doctor could be intoxicated with alcohol and you not know it, so i don't see your point. i am not for the use of drugs so don't take my opinion the wrong way.

Bond, 6720

2/16/2011 2:03:50 PM ET
Marie, you're right. I was misinformed. However, one could still argue that marijuanna is significantly less unhealthy than cigarettes. Regardless, dont' misunderstand my stance. I'm not for pot and against cigarettes, I'm for keeping the laws consistent and outlawing the comparable substances that the laws look the other way on.

Steigerwalt, Altus AFB OK

2/16/2011 2:05:39 AM ET
I just witnessed a co worker walk on a plane and leave his deployment two months early because he was caught with possession of Spice one year ago before the AF put the ban on the substance. The co worker lost stripes and battled through the situation but now, a year later, is receiving the boot.

Somewhere nowhere, usaf

2/15/2011 3:56:17 PM ET
Too many Airmen already act like they are on something. Look at the problems in the past couple of years with control of nukes. Guess what even though alcohol is legal you still can't use it while on duty or in certain jobs 8 hours before you go on duty. It isn't a problem of legal or illegal. It is duty related. Everyone in favor of legalizing drugs would you want your doctor on drugs while performing your vasectomy?

Jerry, Oklahoma

2/15/2011 12:10:45 PM ET
I geuss that the money made by alcohol and cigarette sales are far more important than the health issues they cause. Is that why DoD won't ban thier sales Let's see here...money money money or Cancer and DUI deaths and accidents. Gee I wonder what wins? Look at the BX and commisary shelves and it's easy to see. Money Money Money. So much for health care concerns.

MSgt. Mike Hamilton, 163 RW

2/15/2011 8:49:46 AM ET
I love the individuals who equate pot-smoking and the use of Spice with complete anarchy. I'm not saying that one should disregard rules set in place by a volunteer service but come one. High school English should have taught us more than that about rhetoric. By similar logic a country who manufactures weapons as part of a national defense will want blow up the world. After all bombs are destructive so a country manufacturing and deploying weapons must want for total destruction.

Robert, Virginia

2/15/2011 8:44:51 AM ET
Joe Joint Base MDL. Caffeine does not impair good judgment like alcohol or other drugs. Like tobacco its not good for you but it does not alter your state of mind by incapacitating your decision making/cognitive thinking. Being grumpy is not the same as being drunk or high. Perhaps the AFI needs to define the difference clearer.

Steve, Tampa

2/15/2011 8:07:01 AM ET
The war on drugs is a war on your Liberty.

Larry, IL

2/14/2011 7:51:08 PM ET
Even if all drugs were legalized that doesnt mean that you can show up to work stoned drunk etc. It would be the same as it is now except people would be able to smoke in their offtime. I just think its funny everytime I hear the I dont wanna work with a stoner because he will be high the whole time we are at work etc. Also even if it were legal that doesnt even mean that anyone would be able to smoke it if they had a job. I would suspect that most companies would continue to enforce their no drug policies though continual although random testing of employees siting safety reasons for not allowing employees to smoke weed. An example would be that a man in Michigan got fired for smoking medicinal marijuana perscribed to him by his oncologist. On a side note California Montana Oregon and Washington have all upheld the employers right to prohibit the use as well.

Josh, US

2/14/2011 4:37:53 PM ET
This is what happens. Turn your back on one thing, something more dangerous arises. no point in fighting it now just like my man DJ said.

Colonel Sanders, Kentucky

2/14/2011 4:11:27 PM ET
Steigerwalt are you kidding me? Do you really think marijuana has no health risks associated with it? Marijuana smoke contains the same toxins as cigarette smoke and 4 times the amount of tar. Smoking marijuana has been linked to lung and oral cancers as well as mental illnesses. I am O.K. with people wanting to smoke pot if they choose but it makes no sense that these same people asvocating smoling pot are so against people smoking cigarettes. The only difference is that cigarrettes do not impair mental function and judgement the way pot does. I would rather have a cigarette smoker flying my aircraft then someone hopped up on pot.

Marie, Ellsworth AFB SD

2/14/2011 4:08:55 PM ET
Keep the **** banned...I dont want some stoner next to me on the bomb pad...Its not what the explosive can do that I dont trust Its the window lickers that worry me...If you want to smoke this crap or any other drug get out and rejoin the rest of the civilian ranks..If your in and your complaining about this subject your weeding yourself out anyway...good riddance.

bigdaddybombs, NC

2/14/2011 11:42:17 AM ET
The war on drugs is a hypocritical lost cause.

DJ, NAFB

2/14/2011 10:28:57 AM ET
I agree with Mr. Killington. It's hypocritical to outlaw one substance due to its effects but ignore another that does the same thing. It gets even worse when you take in to account the fact that certain illegal substances such as marijuana have no known health risks while it's common knowledge that drugs like alcohol and cigarettes are practically guaranteed to cause some illness if they don't kill you first.

Steigerwalt, altus AFB OK

2/13/2011 8:00:28 PM ET
AFI 44-201 states any substance other than alcohol and tobacco... but they left off caffeine. Just about everyone uses caffeine to alter mood. i.e. I am grumpy in the morning until I have had my coffee. What about energy drinks that are commonly available at the shoppetteBX People dont just drink those just for fun they do it to alter moodfunction. Technically by doing so we are all in violation of the UCMJ. Caffeine use is so common I think they forgot to make the exception

Joe, Joint Base MDL

2/12/2011 2:41:46 AM ET
We should all just be able to smoke all the weed we want. Just legalize pot and spice and let's just do away with rules altogether. Peace pot microdot. We used to have a pretty awesome USAF.

Jerry, Seattle

2/12/2011 1:00:04 AM ET
MAYBE if the Constitution was enforced the Federal Government would realize it doesn't have the legal power to enforce federal drug laws. Any power not given to the federal government is reserved for the states or the people. What is so hard to understand about that All federal drug laws are notwithstanding. This is not my opinion but of fact. Read the supremacy clause in the Constitution and the 10th Amendment. That will close this case.This is a state power and cannot be interpreted any other way. This is a legally valid point and I challenge anyone to refute it if you think you can.

Joe., Constitutional Standpoint

2/12/2011 12:22:55 AM ET
Legalizing these substances is not the easy answer everyone thinks it is. All it means is that the gov't becomes a dealer too. The taxes that would be put on it would end hurting the poorest people with the biggest problems while the big dollar spenders wouldn't have an issue with the cost and continue to fund the whole industry. All it does is shift the cost to the poorest people and still keeps it around as a gateway drug.

JLG, USAFE

2/11/2011 7:06:57 PM ET
Transportation workers state and local employees including police and firerescue must undergo random drug tests as well as criminals that are on probation. Fake pot is made with research chemicals. Two of those chemicals can be detected with a newer drug test. Those chemicals are JWH-018 and JWH-073. The JWH series runs from JWH-001 thru JWH-412. Opinions very about why fake pot suppliers selected JWH-018 and JWH-073 to use in their products. The emerging consensus is that those were the easiest to make. The drug test for those two substances is about 50. As demand rises for the JWH chemicals that dont show on a drug test it is likely suppliers will provided them. Because there are 412 types of the JWH-XXX chemicals available for the suppliers to use it would follow that the random drug testing would eventually require a test that checks for all of those chemicals. The problem with conducting that sort of testing quickly becomes evident the cost. Solutions for this problem ...

youbetcha, florida

2/11/2011 5:20:53 PM ET
The main killers are still alcohol and tobacco yet we are still able to take part in these products. If you're going to make a law about banning substances that alter your mood and are dangerous then you should stick to your rule/law, not make exceptions. Allowing known killers which will only cost the military/tax payers in health care funds due to all of the health issues they bring is genius

Buzz-Killington, DMAFB

2/11/2011 1:22:26 PM ET
if pot were legalized and properly regulated we wouldn't have problems like k2... its so bad for you and people are actually still smoking it.

krystal, US

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