Professionals who work with substance abusers share concerns about 'incense'

Substance abuse professionals and those who deal with drug addicts in law enforcement have a new wrinkle to contend with -- so-called incense products such as synthetic marijuana and bath salts.

At GCASA, Genesee Justice and county probation (Hope Haven's director refused an interview request for this story), professionals say the fairly new substances make their jobs harder.

Products such as K2 and Spice, on the fake marijuana side, and "bath salts" with names such as Ivory Wave, Bliss and White Lightning, which are designed to mimic cocaine or methamphetamine, are readily available online and at a few retail outlets in Genesee County.

The ease with which an addict can obtain a product is one complication, but an added difficulty is that the chemistry of drug screening hasn't yet caught up with the new substances.

Typically, a drug screen contains seven to nine test panels and people in treatment can be covered by insurance.

Screens for incense products cost from $35 to $115 per test and are not covered by insurance.

"What you run into is that drug companies and agencies doing the drug testing haven't caught up with a substance that's fairly new," said John Walker, director of clinical services for GCASA. "When there is something new, it takes a while for the labs to catch up."

Walker thinks that eventually, even these newer designer drugs will be included in a normal toxicology scan.

That doesn't mean substance abuse professionals are completely clueless about who might be using these substances.

There are still signs to look for, from the glassy eyes to paranoia and aggitation.

When a counselor suspects a patient is using incense, the councilor can request a screen for the substances, and that does happen, Walker said.

For probation officers, there is an additional clue, said Director Julie Smith. Sometimes a probation officer will just walk into the residence of a person on probation and see a package of K2 sitting on a table.

That could lead probation to refer the person to a substance abuse program, or get the terms of the probation amended to specifically prohibit the use of incense products.

"We're definately coming across it, especially during searches," Smith said.

The substances can also present a danger to probation officers, Smith said, especially bath salts, which are known to make users more agitated and difficult to control. Officers don't always know what they're walking into when they check in on a client.

However, if a person is on probation with no prior history of drug use, then there isn't much the probation officer can do about that person smoking, say, K2.

The substance is legal and the terms of probation must fit the crime.

Amee Weierheiser, a case worker for Genesee Justice, said the rise of substances such as K2 is troublesome, but so far, only three defendants in a Genesee Justice program have admitted to K2 use. She said they were high school and college students who admitted to using the product.

If a client doesn't admit to use, then case workers must fall back on observation to determine if a person is using an incense product.

"It’s a huge concern," Weierheiser said. "These kids think it’s a legal way to get high, but it causes all kinds of problems."

Weierheiser said she would like to see the county institute a training program for professionals who deal with defendants and abusers to help them better detect and identify incense product users.

Smith shared Weierheiser's concern that people who consume incense products just aren't really aware of what they're getting into.

"It’s synthetic and it’s dangerous," Smith said. "It says right on the package 'not for human consumption.' People young and old need to realize what this is doing to them. It can certainly cause harm to them."

Walker said that while people tend to want to try out new things, the rise of synthetic marijuana and bath salts is a concern.

"People don’t really know what they’re doing, whch makes it kind of scary, but the popularity is increasing," Walker said.

Previously:

• Potentially dangerous synthetic drugs readily available in Genesee County
• 'Hammer Head' 'incense' blamed for seizure of youth in Le Roy