What Is Black Mamba Drug?
The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has increased over the last decade. During this period, the variability of both clinical presentations and chemical compositions of these compounds has increased. Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are the most commonly used NPS and there are more than 100 documented unique molecules in this class. “Black Mamba drug”, often associated with ADB-FUBINACA, is the most commonly used SC in Colorado. It has been linked to kidney injury, myocardial toxicity, seizures, and death. Substance abuse with black mamba may require medical assistance or a dual diagnosis approach for long-term recovery.
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are the fastest-growing class of addictive illicit drugs in the United States. Their potency and molecular variability have contributed to numerous outbreaks of severe clinical illness. Synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use, a subclass of NPS, has increased dramatically over the last decade. In the early 2000s, SCs became available on internet marketplaces and were sold as “natural herbs.”
These products are typically labeled as “not for human consumption” though their use became widespread in the United States and Europe. Buyers quickly found an intoxicating substance they could purchase legally. Creative names for these products include “Spice”, “K2”, “Bubblegum Kush”, “AK-47”, and “Scooby Snak” among others. There is a lack of quality control in the manufacturing of these products and subsequently, buyers may not receive the drug they intended to buy. [1]
What Is Black Mamba Drug Made Of & How Do People Take It?
Black Mamba drug is one of many synthetic cannabinoids sold using brand name recognition. Consumers believe they are receiving a specific product with anticipated effects though they actually receive a wide range of illicit drugs. These findings should prompt public health substance abuse education targeted at prospective synthetic cannabinoids users.
Synthetic cannabinoids such as black mamba drugs are normally used in a similar way to cannabis:
- They can be mixed with tobacco, rolled up into a spliff or joint, and then smoked
- They can be smoked without tobacco using a pipe or bong
- As e-cigarettes have become more available, there are reports of some people using e-cig technology for synthetic cannabinoids, and that e-liquids containing synthetic cannabinoids have been produced that can be used with normal e-cigs
- They can also be swallowed, eaten with food or made into a drink
What Does Black Mamba Drug Do To You?
Black Mamba is not a drug itself but rather a brand name printed on packets of ‘herbal’ smoking mixture, which contain synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic Cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that have been developed to mimic the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive chemical in Cannabis.
In their pure form, Synthetic Cannabinoid is either solids, liquids, or oils which are then added to dried herbs, vegetable matter, or plant cuttings to make a smoking mixture’ that often look similar to real cannabis or can be used to impregnate paper or similar for onward supply, such as into prisons.
Synthetic Cannabinoids can be up to 100 times more potent than natural Cannabis, with the Global Drug Survey (2016) finding users were 30 times more likely to seek emergency medical treatment because of Synthetic Cannabis use than Cannabis and Skunk.
It’s important to know the warning signs of substance abuse to get proper treatment and avoid the drugs’ adverse effects. Signs that someone has a drug problem include:
- Changing friends a lot
- Spending a lot of time alone
- Losing interest in favorite things
- Not taking care of themselves – for example, not taking showers, changing clothes, or brushing their teeth
- Being really tired and sad
- Eating more or eating less than usual
- Being very energetic, talking fast, or saying things that don’t make sense
- Being in a bad mood
- Quickly changing between feeling bad and feeling good
- Sleeping at strange hours
- Missing important appointments
- Having problems at work or at school
- Having problems in personal or family relationships
Black Mamba Drug Risks & Side Effects
Since synthetic cannabinoids act like cannabis, the effects – good and bad – are similar. Some users will feel happy and relaxed, may get giggles, feel hunger pangs and become very talkative. Others mainly feel ill or paranoid.
Because synthetic cannabinoids such as black mamba drugs react more strongly with the brain’s cannabis receptors they’re more potent than natural cannabis. This means it’s easier to use too much and experience unpleasant and harmful effects. Synthetic cannabinoids act like THC, the active substance in natural cannabis, but are often more potent, so it’s easier to use too much and experience unpleasant and harmful effects.
Typical effects of black mamba drug include:
- Feelings of being happy, euphoric and relaxed, with some people gettings the giggles, feeling hunger pangs and becoming very talkative, while others get more drowsy.
- Mood and perception can change, and concentration and coordination may become difficult. Synthetic cannabinoids, possibly because of their potency, are more likely to be associated with hallucinations than natural cannabis.
- Some will have quite bad reactions, such as paranoia, panic attacks and forgetfulness.
Other common effects of black mamba drug include:
The effects are wide-ranging, unpredictable, and can last for several hours. They include:
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Collapsing into a comatose state, and
- Increased heart rate leading cardiac arrest/death
Other black mamba drug effects include Sweating, Inability to speak clearly, Aggression, Restlessness, Seizures, kidney failure, Hallucinations, Tics, Paranoia, Mood Swings, Prolonged headaches, Nose bleeds, and long-term use can result in physical addiction and withdrawal symptoms:
- Violence is often a symptom of use and can be extreme with reports of serious self-harming and suicidal thoughts which can remain long after the initial effects have worn off.
- Many substances have been found to be very addictive and because they are relatively new, finding effective addiction treatments can be problematic
- Use in a local area can affect various aspects of the local community
- There are two distinct sections of society who are vulnerable to these substances:
- The ‘rough sleepers’ or ‘street populations’ within town and city centers
- Some sections of the prison population
Addiction Treatment
Research suggests that you can become dependent on synthetic cannabinoids or black mamba drugs, especially if you use them regularly. Whether or not you’re dependent will be influenced by a number of factors, including how long you’ve been using it, how much you use, and whether you are just more prone to becoming dependent.
If you have used synthetic cannabinoids such as black mamba drug regularly you could find it difficult to stop using and you might experience psychological and physical withdrawals when you do stop. The withdrawals can include cravings for synthetic cannabinoids, irritability, mood changes, loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, and even sweating, shaking, and diarrhea.
Mixing synthetic cannabinoids with alcohol or other drugs can be especially dangerous. It can increase the risks of both drugs and can lead to a greater risk of accidents or death.
Also, because synthetic cannabinoids such as black mamba drugs, can overstimulate the serotonin system, it is important to avoid mixing them with antidepressants, such as Prozac, as they both stimulate serotonin activity in the brain, which can lead to serotonin syndrome, causing high fever, rapid pulse, sweating, agitation, confusion, convulsions, organ failure, coma, and even death.
We level Up TX is offering exceptional evidence-based recovery treatment programs. The combinations of therapies applied for each client are tailored to their individualized needs in treating dependency and addiction. We provide cutting-edge full-service rehabilitation care, including residential inpatient, medically assisted detox to drugs, alcohol addiction, and co-occurring mental health therapy.
Every addiction treatment is personalized to your needs because we place people first in our treatment center. It is best to receive inpatient care so that our competent staff may facilitate safe medically assisted detox. Inpatient medically-assisted detox is the first thing we will focus on, so we can ensure your body is cleansed from substances and toxins.
Treatments for drug addiction include counseling, medicines, or both. Research shows that combining medicines with counseling gives most people the best chance of success. The counseling may be individual, family, and/or group therapy. It can help you:
- Understand why you got addicted
- See how drugs changed your behavior
- Learn how to deal with your problems so you won’t go back to using drugs
- Learn to avoid places, people, and situations where you might be tempted to use drugs
Medicines can help with the symptoms of withdrawal. For addiction to certain drugs, there are also medicines that can help you re-establish normal brain function and decrease your cravings. If you have a mental disorder along with an addiction, it is known as a dual diagnosis. It is important to treat both problems. This will increase your chance of success. If you have a severe addiction, you may need hospital-based or residential treatment. Residential treatment programs combine housing and treatment services.
Can Drug Use and Addiction Be Prevented?
Drug use and addiction are preventable. Prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media may prevent or reduce drug use and addiction. These programs include a black mamba drug test, education, and outreach to help people understand the risks of drug use.
Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life with a safe and comfortable black mamba drug addiction treatment. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists.
Sources:
[1] Synthetic cannabinoid “Black Mamba” infidelity in patients presenting for emergency stabilization in Colorado: a P SCAN Cohort – National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine