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| Police Learn About New Synthetic Drugs |
Local and state law enforcement agencies are banding together to try and fight a new illegal substance that is changing its makeup almost as soon as officials hear about it.
The Knox County Substance Abuse and Prevention Coalition Tuesday hosted law enforcement officials at City Hall for a discussion with the Illinois Attorney General's Office about "K-2" -- a synthetic drug that's often used to mimic marijuana, but is also sold in some retail shops with a label "not for human consumption" -- even though officials know full well it is.
Deputy Chief of Staff for the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Cara Smith, says the drugs can have serious affects on the brain.
"Even though the intital episode that might bring a child or person into an ermegency episode, they might get passed that, but there's always these weird stories after that," Smith said. "Like two weeks after that (initial episode) 'Billy' stops eating and drops his fork, and doesn't know what to do next."
"So there's no telling how bad these chemicals are for the brain."
What's more, Smith says there isn't really a recipe for "K-2" -- as quickly as officials learn about a chemical ingredient, she says, a different chemical is being used.
Laws against such substances took effect January first.
(Deputy Illinois Attorney General Mike Hood displays an package of "K-2" Tuesday afternoon to a group gathered at Galesburg City Hall.)
(A display of how "K-2" is packaged in various forms, used by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 01 17 12 by Newsroom |
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