The Tappahannock Police Department wants the public to know the dangers of synthetic drugs. Tappahannock and Essex County have seen a dramatic increase of the use and overdose of these dangerous substances. Synthetic drugs are often marketed as herbal incense, bath salts, potpourri and plant food. While some of these substances are legal to purchase they have damaging and sometimes irreversible effects on users. Those that have abused the drugs have suffered vomiting, anxiety, seizures, hallucinations, elevated heart rate and loss of consciousness. In the last 30 days alone, the police department and EMS have responded to multiple incidents where people used these drugs and required emergency treatment. "The fact that some of the substances are legal does not make them safe," says Chief Jim Ashworth. "This is a serious problem both legally and medically."
The most common form of this drug is synthetic marijuana or cannabinoids. This drug is smoked to achieve the same type of high but the chemical used in the drug to mimic THC, found in marijuana, has dangerous psychoactive compounds. Synthetic marijuana is sold at a variety of stores and online making it easily attainable and affordable. In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, released a report detailing the dramatic rise of visits to emergency rooms caused by synthetic cannabinoids. According to the report in 2010, 11,406 ER visits were related to cannabinoids alone. In 2011, that number rose to a dramatic 28,531 visits. The report also detailed that most of the patients were between the ages of 12 and 29.
In August, the police department charged two men in connection with the sale of illegal cannabinoids at the A & N Tobacco store in Tappahannock. Over 100 bags of illegal substances and several thousands of dollars were seized.
