Synthetic drugs are man-made chemical compounds produced to replicate or alter the effects of illicit “natural”, or organic drugs. Oftentimes these drugs are produced in a factory or laboratory and contain a variety of different chemicals and man-made substances.
Synthetic drugs can be bought legally either online or in stores due to a misrepresentation of their intended purpose. Creators of synthetic drugs label their products as “not for human consumption” to avoid FDA regulations. Users often buy synthetic drugs for the purposes of getting high despite the products themselves being labeled as incense, plant food, or research chemicals.
Due to the ability to buy them legally in stores or online, there is a misconception that synthetic drugs are safe to use. That belief is completely wrong, however. While some synthetic drugs are produced and prescribed by medical professionals to treat a variety of conditions, there is little regulation of synthetic drug production.
Dangerous chemicals can be put inside synthetic drugs without the user ever knowing. The synthetic drug molly was created as a pure form of MDMA, which is the chemical that produces the effects of the drug ecstasy. However, the DEA has claimed that only 13% of all molly seized in the state of New York between 2014 and 2018 actually contained any trace of MDMA.
This is common with synthetic drugs as they are often sold as one thing while the creators alter the chemical compounds of the drugs in order to reduce production cost or enhance their effects. This can lead to a variety of different chemicals being included in drugs without being tested, leading to potentially dangerous side effects.
Anyone suffering from addiction to synthetic drugs should immediately seek help. Despite the belief that synthetic drugs are safer than organic illicit drugs, synthetic drugs are both dangerous and highly addictive. While addiction can never be “cured”, it can be treated.
After following a medical detox program, it is recommended to enroll in a residential treatment center or outpatient addiction program. These programs, along with therapeutic treatment, will help work through the underlying causes of addiction. At Create Recovery in Los Angeles, we can provide individualized care at every stage of recovery, from identifying your goals to addressing every facet of your treatment at the source.