 |
| News > Spice illegal for Airmen, produces dangerous side effects |
|
|
| |
| Photos | |
 |
Airmen are banned from using the drug "spice," which is considered by some to be a marijuana alternative. Just using spice once can result in punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 112a, regarding wrongfully using a controlled substance. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Airman 1st Class Benjamin Wiseman)
|
Download HiRes
|
|
|
|
Spice illegal for Airmen, produces dangerous side effects
Posted 12/10/2010
Email story
Print story
by Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
23rd Wing Public Affairs
12/10/2010 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Although it is banned from use by Airmen and scheduled to soon become illegal for all U.S. citizens, not much is known about the drug known as "spice."
Spice, considered by some to be a marijuana alternative because it has the same effects, is a mixture of potentially dangerous herbs coated with chemicals and is often smoked like a cigarette.
According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials, a ruling will be made in late December classifying spice and five of its ingredients as illegal.
"While we were previously worrying about what stores might be selling spice, soon it will be illegal for all stores to sell it," said Capt. Michelle McAdoo, the 23rd Wing legal office assistant judge advocate. "To put it simply, military members are not allowed to use it at any time. Doing so is not only a failure to follow orders, it is a violation of federal law."
According to Air Force Instruction 44-121, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, Airmen are directly prohibited from using spice.
Gen. William Fraser III, the ACC commander, further emphasized the restriction of use in a memorandum released April 15.
General Fraser forbade all servicemembers from using or possessing spice in all of its forms, including incense.
If an Airman uses spice, disciplinary or adverse administrative actions will be pursued under Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is wrongfully using a controlled substance, Captain McAdoo said.
One of the most important reasons Airmen are restricted from using spice is because of the potentially dangerous side effects it can cause.
"Aside from the fact it's not permitted for use by Air Force personnel, using spice can be dangerous," said Capt. Laura Boylan, the 23rd Wing ADAPT program manager. "The manufacturing of it isn't closely controlled, and there can be dangerous ingredients in it that you won't know about."
It is this lack of control during manufacturing that makes spice dangerous.
"Spice mimics the effects of marijuana but can be more powerful," said Linda Glynn, a 23rd Medical Group family practice nurse. "Because of the lack of quality control, you never really know much about what you're putting in your body. Spice can be laced with varying amounts of synthetic chemicals that lead to a dependency on the drug."
The dependency on spice can lead to many negative physical and psychological side effects, Ms Glynn said.
"Side effects include a very fast heart rate, nausea, paranoia, hallucinations, headaches and anxiety," she said. "I've dealt with patients who have gone to the emergency room because their symptoms were so severe they thought they were having a panic attack. We want to keep our Airmen healthy and not using spice can be a part of that."
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, the active ingredient in spice is JWH-018 and can be four to five times more potent than tetrahydrocannabinol, the main ingredient in marijuana. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
