K2/synthetic marijuana

[cera37]

I have two sons ages 20 and 22. Both are smoking synthetic weed and are useless. I mean they lie around spaced out for hours, have major munchies, and do nothing around the house. The younger of the two does have a job and a truck, The older doesn't even have a license OR a job. I'm at my wits end. I love my boys dearly but the stress is getting to me. I am losing my temper with them and don't know what to do anymore. When they don't have any of the "stuff", they are miserable, angry, and yell and swear at me. This stuff must be dangerous. I know they are trying to outlaw it around my area but in the meantime it's easy to purchase and cheaper than the real stuff.

I live out in the woods, far from much of anything. Can't walk to the closest store, which happens to be a Mobil. If I tell them to leave, I'm afraid for them. There is nowhere for them to go. Their father lives with his own parents. Because of their K2 use, their personalities have gotten so bad no one wants them around.

Has anyone else gone through this? If so, what did you do to stop it? Where could they go? They have gotten so lazy and won't do anything for me unless there is some kind of payment involved. I'm not much of a person to have a temper so yelling only makes them laugh. Living with their father isn't an option.

Input anyone?

[eire171]

I know how you feel, my rural hometown in Ireland has been torn apart by the sh*t. I know this sounds harsh but if they do not get help soon they will either overdose or commit suicide from the extreme hallucinogenic effects. Tell them to go to a GP, a doctor, or to rehab, or you will kick them out. Be tough and take no sh*t from them because that drug consumes every life it touches.

[suzieqjazz]

I have a 23 year old son that has been using spice for a couple of years that I know of. It is awful. I made him leave my home. He was stealing from us to sell things and make a few bucks to buy more. I know how you feel, I have been paying the bills for my son to stay somewhere else so that he does not come to my house. I almost lost my marriage last year and I had to make a decision. I am trying to find any reason to have him arrested. That is the only way he is going to seek help. He has went through withdrawals several time and it is awful for him and I. This does a lot of bad things to their body. He is not healthy anymore and I really believe if he does not get off this, he will not live long. He is already having blood pressure issues and has had symptoms of a heart attack. I do feel for you because I know exactly where you are as a mother, but you have to stop enabling them. I still catch myself just giving him a few dollars so that he will get gas and go somewhere else besides my house. I know that sounds awful but I just cant take it anymore. I will pray for you.

[suzieqjazz]

I have a 23 year old son that has been using spice for a couple of years that I know of. It is awful. I made him leave my home. He was stealing from us to sell things and make a few bucks to buy more. I know how you feel, I have been paying the bills for my son to stay somewhere else so that he does not come to my house. I almost lost my marriage last year and I had to make a decision. I am trying to find any reason to have him arrested. That is the only way he is going to seek help. He has went through withdrawals several time and it is awful for him and I. This does a lot of bad things to their body. He is not healthy anymore and I really believe if he does not get off this, he will not live long. He is already having blood pressure issues and has had symptoms of a heart attack. I do feel for you because I know exactly where you are as a mother, but you have to stop enabling them. I still catch myself just giving him a few dollars so that he will get gas and go somewhere else besides my house. I know that sounds awful but I just cant take it anymore. I will pray for you.

[withcranes]

I have been off this crap for 4 months after a brutal 4 year addiction. I doubt very many people hooked on synthetic cannabis will ever get off it for long. This is the worst addiction I have ever had. I doubt my own ability remain clean at this point. The desire to 'pick up' returns frequently and is cunning and viciously powerful. Even though I am in a 12 step group, I almost relapsed twice last week. I pray every day that I never forget the horrifying final months that led to my bottom. I honestly feel that if I start again, I'll never be able to quit. I went through crack addiction twice in the 90's and was able to recover and put it out of my mind. This fake pot **** is as strong as crack and PCP combined, and the mental obsession is more persistent. I live daily in the fear of relapse and am terrorized by using dreams at night. I had a major public meltdown due to chemical induced psychosis and was arrested. I didn't know who  or where I was. I was pacing in circles, ranting unintelligibly in a busy intersection at 7am when the police arrived. I had been in the same state 100's of time at home, and almost every time I threw the stuff out in a paranoid panic only to buy more later the same or next day. The only thing you can do for someone addicted to this stuff is save yourself, they're goin' down. My baby left me and I don't blame her.

[hippiemommy4321]

Synthetic is horrible for people to smoke, my bf was hooked on it for a year before we actually got together. I always saw him with our friends and he would be so angry if he didn't have any and it was effecting his memory more than his normal smoking habits ever did. Its difficult to come off of he had to want to come off but he eventually broke the habit only to take up smoking actual marijuana again for a while until we found out we were pregnant.

[chasmo]

My daughter (age 27) also is out of control with this stuff. They just stopped selling it and made it illegal in our area.  The withdrawls are unbelievable.  As a mother I feel I am a failure and I can not find any way to help her.  She has all the symptoms...rages, swetting, nausia, vomiting, anxiety is thru the roof....much, much more.  I seriously wish I could find the person who developed this stuff !!! Yes I am mad, upset, beside myself and found that only expensive treatments exist.  She will have long term effects, I am positive of this.  She always has bronchitis, coughs so much and so hard sometimes that she has torn tendons attached to ribs.  We can not go out in public and eat a meal.. She has to smoke... she starts having anxiety issues...ect.  She has a very addictive behavior and just trades one thing for another.  I guess that you need to know that you are not alone on this issue.  I have never done drugs in my life of anykind.  I even worked for lawenforcement for years.  Now I am in the medical field for good.  She is my only child and for the first time in my life....I can't fix this or take care of her.  It is beyond my care.  She refuses treatment, hates all meds the dr's have tried on her...nothing works.  I am serioulsy affraid this will be the death of the both of us.  Praying is all we have.  
Pray daily,
Cori
  

[atthebeach]

it is your house, it is your rules. yes you can set boundaries, which include no smoking if they live in your house. they need a job, have to contribute to the chores and they don't get paid to do it.
I went through this with a son and a daughter, they caused such havoc in the house, I also have 2 younger sons. the arguing, dysfunction, lack of motivation, the cursing, name calling, stealing, lying, stress, hurt, it got to be too much. it hurt but I made them leave, they found somewhere to stay and then they both got themselves clean. my son has been sober for 4 years and my daughter has been in victory outreach a Christian rehab for 7 months and she is doing awesome.
please get to some alanon meeting, it is support for the loved ones of addicts.
you are not alone, many have gone before you.
there is always hope,
keep the faith,
Debbie

[cera37]

Is it possible to tell them to stop doing it or they have to leave? I've never had to go through this. It's all so new to me. I would know if they stopped or not. I've been around people who do/did drugs. Their father being one. I know most of the symptoms of being on something, whether it's alcohol or drug related. I will do my hardest to either have them get their lives together or toss them out. This weekend I will give them a D day. Thank you

[nursegirl6572]

Oh boy....that stuff is BAD news.  PLEASE tell your sons they are seriously flirting with imminent danger.  One of my dearest friends has a daughter who was using K2 regularly, and it made her so irrational, and eventually violent.  She almost succeeded in taking her own life in an EXTREMELY horrific and graphic way right in front of my friend (her Mom).  It was awful. She barely survived.  She STILL isn't the same, mentally or physically and her suicide attempt was in July. As a direct result of that, my friend aided law enforcement in a major crackdown around here of K2.  It will cause people to do things they would have NEVER done.  What's worrisome is, you're already seeing major changes in them.  That means trouble is not far away.  I'm not trying to scare you, but I am...I just don't have strong enough words and warnings about this garbage.

I cannot stress enough the dangers involved.  There is still so little known about the permanent effects.  There are reports coming in of people suffering with irreversible psychosis and ended up institutionalized as a result.

If they continue to use, they will be volatile, unpredictable and most certainly dangerous.  I strongly suggest you make them live somewhere else.  You said this:

"Where could they go?"

I KNOW it's hard as a parent, but your boys are adults.  You do not need to figure this stuff out for them, they should be doing that for themselves.  Give them some notice (2 weeks or so) and put your foot down and don't budge.  You don't need people under the influence of that in your house.  It's a ticking time bomb.  

Prayers for you, I'm so sorry you're going through this.  Please seek help from either a private therapist who is familiar with addiction, or alanon or naranon,  You really need to learn how addiction affects everyone in the family, and you also need to learn about enabling and co-dependency.

Very best to you.

[Bubulous]

Can the son with a job afford his own place?  I mean does he make enough money that if he was not buying this stuff he could afford to live on his own?
They have to understand that you are not going to tolerate this behavior.  I know that you love them but there are measures that you can take to let them understand that you mean business.  The very worst thing you can do is nothing.  You will find a lot of support and advise on here but I will offer these suggestions which may seem extreme:

Have the truck towed off of your property
If you pay for the unsurance or their phones cut that off
I don't know exactly what they have that you can take away but you have to stop this.
It is a hard decision to take drastic measures when you feel that you may hurt them but you enable them to do this....
The fact is they will either end up in jail or worse.

[starshine7]

OHHH I could tell you soo much about what my boyfriend who is 51 and his dope smoking (although not goat weed stuff) son who is 27 goes through. He yells at his dad, doesn't do anything unless he "gets' something for it:money or weed, he won't work and like you my boyfriend doesn't want to see him alone or without resources as like your sons, NO ONE wants to take him in,etc.

His mother is a recovering meth addict,so he can't live with her.

I guess I'm so fed up with seeing the abuse. I really hate his son and how he treats him and Myself included. I"m 31.

I just kinda wanted you to know you weren't alone, but that he has no answer and the obvious one to ME is just let them go, throw them out, they hurting you guys. But, they are not my sons....

I do understand what you are going through, sorry I haven't an answer but please feel free to talk to me anytime. Believe me, I am an opiate addict..and I often feel because of his behavior, I use. Bad excuse, but even I can't take it anymore.

Peace, Karen