It’s so important to stay current on drugs. You never know what your young addict is using. Keep informed – it’s part of your parenting power in what seems like a powerless situation.
Originally appeared in The Detroit News, October 10, 2014.
Sales and use of Cloud 9, a synthetic drug gaining popularity in Metro Detroit, have led to several dozen hospitalizations in recent weeks. Most of those harmed are teenagers. It’s not a new problem, but a different version of an ongoing problem. These emergencies are preventable but require committed and cooperative action on several fronts.
Cloud 9 and Hookah Relax are the newest versions of synthetic cannabinoids created to mimic the effect of THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana. As a retail product, Cloud 9 is a clear liquid sold in vials and eyedropper bottles. Cloud 9 can be ingested using an e-cigarette, hookah, or by dropping it into marijuana or energy drinks.
Teens underestimate the risks of using synthetic drugs. They’re perceived as natural and relatively harmless, but are neither. Cloud 9 is a synthetic compound created by…
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