It can be made to look like tobacco, herbal incense or a typical baking spice. But it packs twice as much of the active ingredient in marijuana, and the side effects can be life-threatening. Synthetic marijuana is legal for all ages and typically sold as an incense. Officials are seeing more of it in St. Cloud-area schools. Several Minnesota cities have banned the substance, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration plans to temporarily control five chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana. [continues 1306 words]
Designer drug use among University students is up 6 percent since 1998, according to a 2001 Student Health Survey conducted by Boynton Health Service. Designer drugs include Ecstasy, methamphetamines and gamma hydroxyl butyrate. The study, which randomly surveyed 1,168 University students ages 18-24, also showed a 3 percent increase in amphetamine use. "This is the first time (a designer drug use increase) has shown up in one of our surveys, so we're a little surprised," said Dave Golden, public health director at Boynton. [continues 265 words]
