Format
Scientific article
Publication Date
Original Language

English

Keywords
synthetic cannabinoids
health risks
death

Synthetic Cannabinoids: What Health Risks Do They Pose?

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the US and in Europe. Recently, a range of new substances that have similar effects have become available. These are known as synthetic cannabinoids (SCs). Little is known about the risks these new substances pose.

A new publication which appears in the academic journal Substance Abuse has reviewed the existing literature in this area:

Its findings are noted below:

  • Inhalation through smoking is the most common method of use.
  • SCs can cause minor/moderate effects similar to those of cannabis itself. These include among others: Tachycardia, nausea, somnolence, hallucinations, paranoia, xerostomia, and injected conjunctiva.
  • SCs may also be linked to more serious problems atypical of cannabis intoxication, including renal injuries, aggressiveness, cerebral ischemia, and myocardial infarction.
  • In at least 24 cases of deaths, SCs played some part.

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