By Olivia Duffield
From PHN Issue 56, Spring 2024
Dear Prison Health News,
I was reading an article in Prison Legal News about an individual who was smoking “roach killer.” Many of the symptoms were similar to those who smoke “spice.” My question is this: Can you do an article on “spice”? What it is and is not…
Sincerely,
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Spice, also called K2, is a street name for synthetic cannabinoids. When ingested, they are designed to mimic the effects of marijuana on the body. Unlike marijuana plants, which are grown from seeds, synthetic cannabinoids are made in a lab and bind to the same receptors in the body as THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. There are many different chemical structures that can be cooked up to create a synthetic cannabinoid, and the exact effects of one may not be exactly the same as another, but we see general similarities.
Short-term effects include euphoria (a “high”) similar to that experienced by using marijuana. Other signs and symptoms of synthetic cannabinoid ingestion vary widely and may include: agitation, sleepiness, irritability, confusion, dizziness, difficulty walking, inability to concentrate, stroke, and seizures; psychiatric signs and symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions,
psychosis, violent behavior, and suicidal thoughts; and heart racing, high blood pressure, severe nausea and vomiting, chest pain and heart attack (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Synthetic marijuana is a relatively new drug, and there is limited research about its long-term health effects. People have overdosed and died from synthetic cannabinoids in the past, and sometimes they can also be laced with other compounds, such as fentanyl.
For the purposes of this article, I looked into reports of smoking “roach killer.” There are a few articles online about individuals smoking Raid or other bug sprays and exhibiting odd behavior or decreased levels of consciousness, but none have reliable sourcing. In every article I found, the
reporting on this phenomenon was coming from police sources, rather than medical professionals. Ingesting high doses of roach killer can certainly lead to toxic effects. The medical director of poison control in Indiana is quoted in one article: “The active ingredients in household bug sprays, which are called pyrethroids, are generally considered to be safe in small exposures… Exposure to high concentrations could induce respiratory distress [difficulty breathing] and neuro excitations, leading to sweating, muscle spasms or seizure, and the risk of falling into a coma.” All the reports indicated that the “roach killer” was mixed in with other drugs, such as spice and methamphetamine, and it is difficult to say what exactly might be causing the reported symptoms.
Regardless, ingesting roach killer in any amount is not recommended for your health and safety.
Prison Health News 