WXIA has a warning tonight that every parent and teenager
should hear. It's about a type of drug that six months or a year ago you
might never have heard of and might now believe is no longer a threat.
We're talking about so-called designer drugs like synthetic marijuana
and bath salts which until recently had been known as "a legal high."
But doctors warn these drugs can have powerful and unpredictable side effects. The bottom line is they can and have killed.
Lance Dyer learned just how dangerous these drugs can be after his
fourteen-year-old son Dakota decided to experiment with them in March.
Dyer says the drugs triggered a psychotic break, transforming the otherwise happy, healthy teen into someone who was suicidal.
"Dakota took a handgun and took his own life," Dyer says. "He made
the decision to smoke that stuff and he paid the ultimate price for it."
In the days after his son's death, Dyer says the missing pieces of
this troubling puzzle began to fall into place. He retrieved several
text messages from his son's friends, urging him to try what they were
describing as "legal bud" or synthetic marijuana. Dakota initially
resisted but eventually wavered.
Dr. Martin Belson with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta says psychosis is a common side effect of these drugs.
"This is a very powerful chemical. It's supposed to be very similar
in appearance to marijuana. However, it's much more toxic," Dr. Belson
said. "We see a lot of problems with psychosis or hallucinations and
paranoia.
Interest in synthetic drugs seemed to spike in 2011. The American
Association of Poison Control Centers says call centers nationwide
fielded nearly 7-thousand calls about synthetic marijuana last year. The
numbers, which are only available for the first half of 2012, are on
pace to exceed last year's total with 3,821 calls so far.
That's despite the drugs being banned in Georgia and several other
states and an aggressive crackdown by local and federal law enforcement.
Lance Dyer says he's left with the conclusion that these dangerous
drugs are still available and others like his son are making the fateful
decision to try them.
"Ladies and gentleman, it's not marijuana," Dyer said. "These products are nothing but poisons."
WXIA