HarmonyPlaceSays UsingNewStreetDrugs LikeKratom,Zaza, ChromeCanBeFatal
HarmonyPlace,anaddictionandmentalhealthtreatmentprograminWoodlandHills, Californiathatoffersbothinpatientandoutpatientservices,isseeinganincreaseinthe numberofclientsexperimentingwithdangeroussubstanceswithnameslikeKratom, Zaza,DustOffandChrome.
"We'rehighlydisturbedbythe increaseintheuseofthese newdrugs.
Inadditiontobeinghighlyaddictive,theycanbepotentially fatal.
Compoundingtheproblemisthe easyaccessthattheycanbe obtained,"saysClinicalDirectorof HarmonyPlaceDavidCohen.
"Wearewitnessingagrowingnumberofpeoplewillingto experimentwiththesesubstanceswithoutconsideringwhatthe long-termcostsmaybeand,frankly,theycanbedeadly.
Thepublicmustbewarnedaboutthem andsteerclearofthembeforeit'stoo late."Amongthenewwaveofillicitdrugs isKratom,anopioid-likeherbal substancewithserioussideeffectsanda highriskforaddiction.
"Bydrinkingenoughofit,theheartrateandcentral nervoussystemwillslowdownquicklyanddramatically tolevelsthatcanbedeadly."Thentherearethe inhalantslikeChrome,Whip-ItsandDust-Offthatare easilyaccessibleandcanbefoundonlineandevenat somesmokeshopsandgasstations.
"Kratomisgrowinginpopularity,especiallyamongthoseseeking toself-treatanxietyoranopioidaddiction,"saysCohen.
Atfirst,usersfeelasenseofeuphoriabut,dependingonthe dosage,theycanalsoexperiencehallucinationsordelusionsthat canmakethemactinanerraticmanner,"furthersCohen.
"Althoughthehighthat'sproduced typicallylastsjustashorttime,users oftenprolongtheexperienceby repeatedlyinhalingagainandagain overseveralhours.
Persistentusecancausechronicliver,kidneyandnerveproblems, developmentaldelays,cognitivedysfunctionandpermanentbrain damage.
"Cohenalsopointstoanincrease intheuseofZaza,whichcanbe foundover-the-counteratgas stationsandthelikeintheU.S.
