To the K drugs, also known as K2, K4, K9 or spice (from English, spice), are synthetic substances developed with the aim of reproducing the therapeutic effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in marijuana. Despite the term "synthetic marijuana" being given to these drugs, K drugs do not share the same compounds as marijuana, and are hundreds of times more potent.
The use of these substances can result in serious changes in consciousness, including psychosis, anxiety attacks, seizures and violent behavior. Furthermore, they are associated with cardiovascular risks, such as heart attack and stroke, which can lead to fatal complications.
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K Drug Summary
- K drugs, also known as K2, K4, K9 or spice, form a group of substances developed in the laboratory with the ability to bind to cannabinoid receptors.
- These substances were developed with the aim of synthesizing a compound similar to THC, but in order to eliminate psychotropic effects and preserve possible therapeutic applications.
- The different nomenclatures refer to the same drug, varying in the form in which each one is marketed and the substances associated with the synthetic form.
- Smoking is the most common form of administration.
- K drugs act as full agonists of cannabinoid receptors, providing a more intense binding than the natural components of marijuana.
- Its use is associated with adverse effects, such as mental confusion, nausea, increased anxiety, violent behavior, seizures and potential cardiovascular risks.
- Currently, K drugs have become an important public health issue.
What are K drugs?
K drugs make up a group of substances developed in the laboratory and known as synthetic cannabinoids because they bind with high affinity to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) present in the central and peripheral nervous system. These receptors are the same as the cannabinoids present in marijuana (Cannabis sativa) connect.
Synthetic cannabinoids are a class within a larger set of substances called “new psychoactive substances”. Until now, more than 300 synthetic cannabinoids have been identified globally, and its commercialization on the illegal market grows annually.
These substances are sold as a potent narcotic, becoming a concern for health and public safety authorities due to the serious harm caused to users. Furthermore, the ease of manipulating chemical formulas in laboratories allows a simple modification in the substance to generate a new drug with even more serious or unknown effects.
How did K drugs come about?
the cells of the central and peripheral nervous system have receptors known as cannabinoid receptors, constituting the endocannabinoid system. These receptors interact with endocannabinoids, neurotransmitters produced by the body itself, such as anandamide, which act to regulate mood and emotional behavior. These receptors also connect to the phytocannabinoids present in marijuana.
When linked to these receptors, these molecules induce changes in the perception and sensation of relaxation, resulting in variations in anxiety, slowing of thinking and impoverished response to environmental stimuli depending on each individual and the type of marijuana. Additionally, some users may experience difficulty concentrating and experience paranoia.
Based on this lock-and-key system between molecule and receptor of the endocannabinoid system, K drugs were initially developedand studied in the 1990s with the aim of being used as a treatment for various diseases, such as chronic pain. The objective was to synthesize the main components of marijuana, such as THC, minimizing or eliminating its psychotropic effects, but preserving possible therapeutic applications.
With time, these substances migrated to the illegal market, being used as illicit drugs. The exact date of arrival of synthetic marijuana in Brazil is difficult to determine, as its easy modification in the laboratory makes identification difficult. News of seizures in prisons dates back to 2018, with a significant increase in recent years.
See too: Amphetamines — synthetic drugs that make the brain work faster
What are the K drugs?
K drugs are also known as K2, K9, K4 or spice. Each term is mainly linked to the way the drug is presented for consumption and to other substances associated with the synthetic drug produced in the laboratory. K2 was made available in 2004 and is considered the first version. It is generally sold as a powdered herb or in liquid form, resembling an air freshener.
Subsequently, theK4 and K9, sold in stamps for sublingual dissolution or in liquid form for spraying on papers or other drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. The combination of K9 use and marijuana is an association that may have contributed to the nickname "super marijuana" due to the potential effects on the body.
Ways of using K drugs
The commercialization of these substances occurs in several ways, generally being sprayed on dried herbs, other plants or pieces of paper. Users usually use this mixture in pipes or cigarettes to smoke, but other routes of administration such as oral, pulmonary (via vaporization) and rectal have already been reported.
What are the effects of K drugs on the human body?
More studies are still needed to comprehensively understand the effects of K drugs on the body. Users are known to experience a deep state of altered consciousness, accompanied by intense pleasure and relaxation, generally followed by:
- mental confusion;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- increased anxiety;
- tachycardia;
- lack of motor coordination;
- psychosis.
These effects may result in a "zombie"-like state, leading the individual to lose sense of self. The duration of the effects of synthetic cannabinoids varies from one to six hours, depending on the formulation used.
Know more: What are the symptoms of an overdose?
Are K drugs and “synthetic marijuana” the same thing?
The term "synthetic marijuana" has been associated with K drugs, despite do not share the same substances, such as THC, present in marijuana. Likewise, marijuana does not contain the compounds found in K drugs. The use of this term contributes to a false association with therapeutic marijuana, generating the incorrect illusion that K drugs are harmless.
Furthermore, K drugs are hundreds of times more potent than marijuana, a result of their behavior as a full agonist of the CB receptor, which leads them to establish an intense connection. In contrast, THC and endocannabinoids are partial agonists of CB1 receptors, connecting with lower affinity.
This difference in binding affinity makes its effects on the body much more intense compared to the body's natural neurotransmitters or marijuana.
Risks of using K drugs
There are few long-term studies investigating the toxic effects of K drugs compared to other substances such as cocaine. and crack. However, it is known that this new drug It is highly addictive and can trigger serious psychiatric conditions, as:
- psychosis;
- anxiety and panic attacks;
- convulsions;
- hallucinations;
- violent behavior.
Furthermore, the consumption of K drugs may result in
- arterial hypertension;
- tachycardia;
- acute myocardial infarction;
- renal insufficiency;
- stroke;
- overdose.
Generally, deaths associated with K drugs occur due to cardiovascular problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.
Sources
ANTONIOU, T. & JUURLINK, D.N. 2014. Synthetic cannabinoids. CMAJ. 186(3): 210.
BIERNATH, A. “Synthetic marijuana”: what are the effects of K drugs on the body? In:BBC News Brazil, 2023. Available in: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/crgmznzdnmmo
What are K Drugs and how they act in the body. Production: Mariana Neves. Images: Jorge Calhau. Editing: Bruna Mozer and Patrícia Lauretti. Campinas: Unicamp TV, 2023. YouTube. Available in: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=yKVWKE9D0X8
WALSH, K.B.; ANDERSEN, H.K. Molecular Pharmacology of Synthetic Cannabinoids: Delineating CB1 Receptor-Mediated Cell Signaling. Int J Mol Sci, 2020. 21(17): 6115.