Dabs Drug

What Are Dabs Drugs?

Dabs drugs—also referred to as wax, shatter, amber, honeycomb, or budder—are concentrated versions of butane hash oil (BHO) which contains highly-concentrated levels of THC. This concentrated substance is produced through a chemical process using butane oil to extract the oils from cannabis. [1]

Although some people believe that dabbing is a safer method of ingesting cannabis because it is so highly concentrated and a person only has to take one hit to get high, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Simply put, there is no completely safe level of drug use. Any drug—regardless of its purpose—carries some substance abuse risks. Dabs drugs are no exception.

Can You Overdose On Dabs Drug?

Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs in the U.S., according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. There are no reports of fatal marijuana overdoses, but it is possible to overdose on cannabis. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Can you overdose on marijuana? Yes, but unlike overdoses of other illicit drugs, a marijuana overdose won’t likely be fatal. 

Here are the symptoms [3] you may experience if you overdose on weed:

• High levels of anxiety
• Panic attack
• Rapid heart rate 
• Difficulty conversing
• Poor coordination
• High or low blood pressure 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Extreme confusion and memory problems 
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations 

Dabbing Is Not The Same As Smoking

According to Healthline, THC is the part of marijuana that makes people “high,” although it is also considered to have some medicinal uses. While people smoking standard marijuana may inhale THC levels of about 10 to 15 percent, those concentrations can skyrocket to 90 percent when dabbing. [4]

Marijuana dabs drugs are a concentrated form of pot that can provide intense effects and superior medicinal benefits. In general, all dabs and concentrates are referred to as wax, but there are also other names depending on the kind of concentrate extraction.

Here Are Some Of The Different Types Of Weed Wax Dabs Drug According to AddictionResource: [5]

• Marijuana Shatter. This is a transparent, smooth, light-colored concentrate that resembles a glass sheet and shatters when dropped.
• Scissor. This type of concentrate is collected from the scissors used to cut the leaves and the hands of workers who handle the plants. The sticky extract has a high concentration of cannabinoids
• Dust. This is a marijuana distillate that is manufactured with dry ice (carbon dioxide) extraction process. The consistency is grainy, and it is easy to melt. It is usually consumed by waxing (adding cannabis concentrate to a joint)
• Ice Wax or Bubble. This concentrate is collected with water and ice instead of solvents to separate the trichomes or THC from the frozen cannabis plant. The cold-water extraction process protects against contamination
• Oil. This looks like marijuana CBD oil but is far more potent and is usually smoked rather than used as an edible
• Budder. This is a golden, creamy wax that resembles peanut butter in appearance and consistency. It is manufactured with butane extraction
• Marijuana Rosin. Weed is placed on parchment paper and heated with a flat hair iron. The concentrate is scraped off, collected, and smoked by any method

Harmful Side Effects

Because the THC and other chemicals are more concentrated in marijuana extracts than in regular marijuana, the side effects of dabbing—like poor judgment and coordination—are likely to be more powerful than those from smoking weed. Since dabbing is so new, there are not many studies on this yet, unfortunately.

Marijuana extracts can also be very dangerous to make. One method for extracting the concentrated drug from regular marijuana involves forcing butane (a flammable chemical often found in lighter fluid) through a marijuana-packed pipe. Sometimes it works; sometimes it blows the house up, landing the maker in a burn unit (or worse). 

Dabbing is linked with a number of dangerous side effects like a rapid heartbeat, blackouts, crawling sensations on the skin, loss of consciousness, and psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations. Meanwhile, a study conducted by researchers at Portland State University found that dabbing also may expose people to elevated levels of toxins including carcinogenic compounds. What the scientists found is that the higher the temperature the substance is exposed to, the more carcinogens, toxins, and potential irritants that are produced.

The temperatures required for dabbing put people at a greater risk than other methods. As a result, people who dab are being exposed to harmful chemicals including methacrolein and benzene. Likewise, another study found that more than 80% of marijuana extracts are contaminated with poisonous solvents and pesticides.

Dangers of Production

Another danger of dabbing is the production. Making hash oil is actually one of the riskiest aspects of dabbing. Dabs drugs are made by blasting butane or lighter fluid—a highly flammable and unstable substance—through the marijuana plant. Adding heat to these substances is extremely dangerous.

What’s more, after the process has been completed, any remaining butane remains in the room as gas. As a result, the smallest spark—even one produced by static electricity—can cause an explosion. The risks are similar to that of a meth lab.

Consequently, there have been increasing reports of houses, apartment buildings, and other structures exploding during the extraction process. When this happens, the people involved are at risk of severe burns requiring skin grafts or reconstructive surgery, broken bones, and even death.

Withdrawal Symptoms From Dabbing

Symptoms are variable and may not relate to the quantity smoked or duration of use. The most common symptoms comprise:

• Craving
• Anxiety, restlessness, irritability
• Anorexia (and weight loss)
• Disturbed sleep and vivid dreams
• Gastrointestinal tract symptoms (for example, abdominal pain)
• Night sweats
• Tremor

Symptoms may last one to two weeks.

Inpatient Drug Rehab Texas

Clearing dabs drugs from the body and overcoming withdrawal symptoms is the goal of marijuana detox, which is the first step of treatment for addiction. [7] We Level Up TX has a comprehensive team prescribing medications that can alleviate your withdrawal pains while monitoring your health 24 hours during the detox. We prioritize your safety and comfort because this is a fragile and challenging time for you.

Once detox is complete, a new doorway in treatment opens up, which is referred to as a residential level of care. The residential care program slowly and effectively introduces the individual into an atmosphere of therapeutic growth, marked by master’s level therapists, clinicians, group counselors, psychiatrists, and a community of like-minded individuals with the same aim: to attain sobriety and live a great life.

Some of the many modalities applied and practiced within our residential treatment facility are:

We Level Up TX prioritizes removing temptations for relapse and applying an air of recovery into every component of the treatment timeline, including meth addiction treatment. We Level Up TX finds that when clients are living in a supportive community, especially during their early recovery process, they can truly focus on what matters most: their recovery.

If you or a loved one is struggling with dabs drug, reach out to We Level Up TX because we may be able to help you explore treatment options.