Synthetic marijuana, K2, Spice, JWH-018 and, you guessed it, dependence

When I first read Abel Pharmboy’s post introducing the notion of recreational use of a synthetic cannabinoid adulterated burnable product, my first thought was the US Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement of 1986, aka the Federal Analog Act (Wikipedia). From the justice department page about analogues:

They are structurally or pharmacologically similar to Schedule I or II controlled substances and have no legitimate medical use. A substance which meets the definition of a controlled substance analogue and is intended for human consumption is treated under the CSA as if it were a controlled substance in Schedule I.

sourceAs Abel pointed out, these so called synthetic marijuana products are some variety of dried vegetable matter adulterated with one or more compounds that convey similar pharmacological properties as does Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of marijuana. Compounds which appear to be highly popular are the ones known as CP-47,497 and JWH-018.

Now this is how you report fatality involving MDMA

My readers are no doubt becoming a little bored with this but I assure you I do not bother to blog every one that pops up. Yes, another tragedy. A life cut short at 19 years of age because of the recreational drug MDMA, aka Ecstasy.

Friend Darren Anscombe said: ‘Me and him took some.
‘We were having a laugh at that time. I went into the kitchen and heard Danny’s girlfriend scream.
‘I went into the front room and he was lying on the floor, lifeless.’
Mr Anscombe dialled 999 and under instruction from the operator, carried out chest compressions until paramedics arrived.
Mr Anscombe said Daryl had been ‘happy’ that night but starting ‘acting strangely’.

Here is what I like about the reporting on this. They head off much speculation this way:

Dr Barbara Borek, forensic pathologist, said: ‘Toxicological analysis has detected the presence of a potentially fatal concentration of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.’
Tests showed there was 4,491mg of the drug per litre in his blood.

PhysioProf's faaaaaavorite…

…Link Vomitus!
Prof-like Substance and Professor in Training fire up the DisgruntledPostdoc^TM
Odyssey notes that four bloggers will be officially covering the annual meeting of the Biophysical Society.
Privilege 306 (via 49 percent)
All About Addiction, one of the Psychology Today blog efforts.
Do you treat your academic trainees identically, or customize based on the individual? Is the latter bias or good mentoring?
PalMD is kinda cute when he gets crabby.
MsPHD is going to put together a book, woot! (I’m one of those that enjoys blog entries organized into a print volume if that is what she is planning. Think she’ll ask PP and I for jacket blurbs????)