Synthetic cannabinoids are made in a lab to mimic the effects of cannabis. They can make you feel relaxed, happy, paranoid or confused.
Spice is a common name for synthetic cannabinoids.
Synthetic cannabinoids come as:
- vape pens or liquids
- oils or drops
- edibles such as sweets or gummies
- dried leaves or flowers - the synthetic cannabinoid is sprayed on
- paper - the paper is dipped in the synthetic cannabinoid
Synthetic cannabinoids are often sold as cannabis products or mixed with other drugs. This increases the risks of negative effects such as poisoning or overdose.
Drug category: cannabinoid
Cannabinoids are drugs or chemicals:
- from the cannabis plant
- made to mimic the effects of cannabis (synthetic cannabinoids)
They can make you feel relaxed, happy, paranoid or confused.
Other names for synthetic cannabinoids
Other names include: Amsterdam gold, annihilation, black mamba, blue cheese, bombay blue extreme, clockwork orange, devil's weed, ecsess, exodus damnation, K2, mary joy, pandora's box, potpourri, spice, SCRAs, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, synthetic cannabis, tai high hawaiian haze, X
Effects of synthetic cannabinoids
The effects of synthetic cannabinoids can vary depending on:
- your size, weight and sex
- if you have any health conditions or mental health difficulties
- how you take the drug
- the strength of the drug
- how much you take
- if you take alcohol, medicines or other drugs at the same time
- where you take the drug and how you feel before you take it
- if you have taken the drug before and how often
If you smoke or vape synthetic cannabinoids, the effects start almost immediately and can last 2 to 4 hours.
If you eat synthetic cannabinoid edibles, the effects start from 30 to 90 minutes and can last 4 to 12 hours.
Sometimes people do not know they have taken a synthetic cannabinoid. This is because synthetic cannabinoids are often sold as cannabis.
There are hundreds of synthetic cannabinoids. Their effects are more harmful and unpredictable than cannabis. People have died after taking them.
How you may feel or behave
You may feel:
- relaxed or calm
- happy
- confused, anxious or paranoid
- low or depressed
- agitated or aggressive
Effects on your brain and body
Synthetic cannabinoids can cause:
- dizziness
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (getting sick)
- breathing problems
- chest pain
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- tremors or seizures (fits)
- hallucinations - when you see, feel or hear things that are not there
- kidney problems
Synthetic cannabinoids and mental health
Synthetic cannabinoids can cause mental health difficulties or make existing difficulties worse. The effects on your mental health can last after other effects of the drug have stopped.
Mental health difficulties linked with synthetic cannabinoids include:
- anxiety
- depression
- thoughts of suicide
- psychosis - you have confused thoughts, feelings and behaviour and you do not know what is real or not real
Synthetic cannabinoids and dependency
Regular use of synthetic cannabinoids can cause:
- tolerance - when you need to take more of the drug to get the same effects
- dependency
Signs of dependency can include:
- cravings for a drug
- withdrawal symptoms
- continuing to use a drug even when it causes you harm
Withdrawal symptoms
If you stop taking synthetic cannabinoids after regular use, you may get withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- mood swings and irritability
- headaches
- anxiety
- depression
How long do synthetic cannabinoids stay in your system?
It can be hard to know how long synthetic cannabinoids stay in your system.
There are tests to detect synthetic cannabinoids. But different types of tests have different detection times.
Things that affect how long a drug stays in your system
The time it takes for a drug to leave your system depends on many things.
For example:
- how much you took
- how often you take the drug
- how strong the drug was
- your age, sex and metabolism
- your general health
Reducing risks from synthetic cannabinoids
It’s always safest not to take drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids can look like cannabis but they cause more harmful effects.
There are ways to reduce the risk of harm if you use cannabinoids. Select a piece of advice to find out more.
Consider if there is extra risk for you - such as health conditions or how you feel.
There are always risks if you use drugs. But some people may be more at risk than others.
If you or someone in your family has any health conditions or mental health difficulties, you may be more at risk of a drug emergency.
For example, there is a higher risk of negative effects if you:
- have mental health difficulties or a family history of them
- take antidepressants
- have heart problems
- have breathing problems such as asthma
It can be hard to know your level of risk. Some people have health conditions and do not know it.
If you feel low, anxious or stressed, you are more at risk of a negative or challenging experience.
Delay using cannabinoids for as long as possible.
The brain continues to develop until age 25. The younger you start using drugs, the greater the risk of serious problems.
Be with people you trust and look out for each other - do not use alone.
Pick a meeting point and know what to do in case of an emergency.
Start with a small amount and wait 2 hours before you take more.
This is to reduce the risk of a drug emergency.
The contents or strength of drugs can vary, even in the same batch.
If you start with a small amount, you can:
- see how you react - especially if you use the powder at the bottom of a bag
- stop if you get an effect you did not expect or do not want
It can take up to 2 hours for some effects to happen. If you take too much too soon, it increases your risk.
Know what to do in case of a challenging experience.
If you know what to do during a challenging experience, it could stop a situation getting worse and help you support someone.
But it is always safest to get medical advice if someone has overwhelming or unexpected effects.
Plan a safe way to get home.
It is dangerous to drive if drugs are in your system. You could harm yourself or other people. A drug can still be in your system even if you do not feel the effects.
Know what to do in case of a drug emergency.
If you take any kind of drug, it is important to know:
- signs of a drug emergency, including signs related to mental health
- what to do in case of overdose or other emergencies
An overdose can be a life-threatening condition. It happens when someone has too much of a drug or another substance in their system.
Getting help can prevent serious damage or death. Your wellbeing is the main priority.
Mixing synthetic cannabinoids with alcohol or other drugs
It is dangerous to mix synthetic cannabinoids with alcohol, medicines or other drugs.
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 if
you or someone else has taken cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids and has:
- severe distress, confusion or panic - they cannot calm down and may be a danger to themselves or others
- a very fast or irregular heartbeat
- chest pains
- temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher
- a seizure (fit)
- severe nausea and vomiting
Stay with the person until help arrives.
Tell the medics everything you know about the drug and give them any leftover drug if possible. It will help them decide the right treatment.
If you are worried about synthetic cannabinoid use
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s use, you can find support. This can be when synthetic cannabinoid use affects your health, relationships, work or other areas of your life.
Non-urgent advice: Drugs and alcohol helpline
You can contact the helpline for support, information or advice on treatment and support options.
Freephone: 1800 459 459
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
Email: helpline@hse.ie