Anisha Riggs
Incense is a substance that releases a fragrant smoke when burned. While some incense products are commercially available for aromatic purposes, others are being abused for their psychoactive properties. These are synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as synthetic marijuana, K2, or Spice, which are often sold in legal retail outlets as herbal incense or potpourri. They are labelled not for human consumption to avoid regulatory oversight. Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied to plant material and marketed as a legal high. However, they pose tremendous health risks, including severe agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, tremors, and seizures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is incense? | Incense is a product that is burned to emit a pleasant smell. |
| Are incense and drugs the same? | No. However, certain types of incense products may contain synthetic drugs. |
| What are synthetic cannabinoids? | Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied (often sprayed) onto plant material and marketed as a "legal" high. |
| What are they commonly known as? | Synthetic cannabinoids are commonly known as "synthetic marijuana", "K2", or "Spice". |
| How are they sold? | They are often sold in legal retail outlets as "herbal incense" or "potpourri" and are labeled "not for human consumption" to avoid regulatory oversight. |
| What are the health risks? | The contents and effects of synthetic cannabinoids are unpredictable and can include severe agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations. |
| What is the extent of usage? | The use of synthetic cannabinoids is alarmingly high, especially among young people. According to a 2012 survey, one in nine 12th graders in America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year. |
| What are some real-life incidents involving incense drugs? | In 2018, an outbreak of severe bleeding in multiple states in the US was linked to synthetic cannabinoids contaminated with brodifacoum, a rat poison. In 2016, 33 people were intoxicated by an herbal "incense" product called "AK-47 24 Karat Gold" in Brooklyn. |
| Are there any beneficial effects of incense? | Yes, an ingredient in frankincense is known to ease anxiety and elevate mood. |
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What You'll Learn
Incense can be a drug
Synthetic Cannabinoids
Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors as cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and many others) found in cannabis plants. They are often sprayed onto plant matter and smoked, although they can also be ingested in liquid form. These drugs are often marketed and sold as "herbal incense" or "potpourri" under brand names such as K2 and Spice. The term "synthetic marijuana" is also used to describe these products, but some experts argue that this is a mistake as the effects of synthetic cannabinoids can be much more unpredictable and dangerous than those of marijuana. Nearly 700 "herbal incense" blends exist, and their use is alarmingly high, especially among young people. In 2012, one in nine 12th graders in America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year.
The contents and effects of synthetic cannabinoids are unpredictable due to the constantly changing variety of chemicals used in manufacturing processes that lack quality controls and government regulatory oversight. Health warnings have been issued by public health authorities and poison control centers, describing the adverse health effects associated with their use. These effects can include severe agitation and anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (fast, racing heartbeat), elevated blood pressure, tremors, and seizures.
Frankincense
Frankincense is a resin obtained from the Boswellia tree and has been used for centuries in religious and spiritual practices. It contains an ingredient that has been found to ease anxiety and elevate mood, suggesting that it may have psychoactive properties. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential psychoactive effects of frankincense.
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Synthetic cannabinoids in incense
Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors as cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and many others) in cannabis plants. They are commonly known as "synthetic marijuana", "K2", or "Spice", and are often sold in legal retail outlets as "herbal incense" or "potpourri". These products are labelled "not for human consumption" to avoid regulatory oversight of the manufacturing process.
Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied (often sprayed) onto plant material and marketed as a "legal" high. They are designed to mimic THC, the primary psychoactive active ingredient in marijuana. These synthetic analogues often have a greater binding affinity and greater potency to the CB1 receptors, which are linked to the psychoactive effects or "high" of marijuana.
Synthetic cannabinoids were first released in 2005 by the now-defunct company Psyche Deli in London. The brand gained popularity in 2006, and by 2007, the company's assets had increased significantly. In 2009, Spice products were identified in 21 out of 30 participating countries by the EMCDDA. According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends, one in nine 12th graders in America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year. This rate, unchanged from 2011, puts synthetic cannabinoids as the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors after marijuana.
The use of synthetic cannabinoids can have serious adverse health effects. Health warnings have been issued by numerous public health authorities and poison control centres, describing the adverse health effects associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids. These effects include severe agitation and anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (fast, racing heartbeat), elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations. In some cases, synthetic cannabinoid use has led to overdoses and even deaths. For example, in July 2016, 33 people overdosed on an herbal "incense" product called "AK-47 24 Karat Gold" in Brooklyn, and in September 2018, at least 10 people overdosed on a synthetic cannabinoid in Christchurch over two days.
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Psychoactive properties of incense
Incense, when referred to in the context of synthetic drugs, usually relates to synthetic cannabinoids, which are a class of designer drugs. These synthetic cannabinoids are often marketed and sold as "herbal incense" or "potpourri". They are commonly known as "synthetic marijuana", "K2", or "Spice". These substances are often labelled "not for human consumption" to avoid regulatory oversight and mask their intended purpose.
Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied (often sprayed) onto plant material and marketed as a "legal" high. They are designed to mimic THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They bind to the same receptors to which cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and many others) in cannabis plants attach. Users claim that synthetic cannabinoids produce effects similar to those of THC.
The use of synthetic cannabinoids is alarmingly high, especially among young people. According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends, one in nine 12th graders in America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year. The contents and effects of synthetic cannabinoids are unpredictable due to the constantly changing variety of chemicals used in manufacturing processes that lack quality controls and government regulatory oversight.
Health authorities and poison control centers have issued warnings about the adverse health effects associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids. The effects include severe agitation and anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (fast, racing heartbeat), elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations. In some cases, synthetic cannabinoids have been contaminated with dangerous substances, such as brodifacoum (a rat poison), leading to severe health consequences, including severe bleeding and even deaths.
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Health risks of incense
Burning incense is a popular practice in many cultures for hygienic, religious, and spiritual purposes. However, recent research reveals that incense smoke may pose several health risks.
The smoke released from burning incense contains particulate matter that includes harmful compounds such as carbon, sulfur, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, and other polycyclic aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds are known carcinogens, and exposure to them has been linked to an increased risk of developing cancer, especially of the upper respiratory tract and lungs. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified exposure to particulate matter (PM) as carcinogenic to humans since 2013.
In addition to the risk of cancer, incense smoke has been associated with respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases. The fine and ultrafine particles in incense smoke can be inhaled, leading to respiratory tract irritation, throat irritation, nose irritation, and dermatological sensitivity. Incense smoke has also been linked to allergic reactions, with research associating it with childhood asthma and the development of respiratory allergies.
Furthermore, a 2020 study found that long-term exposure to incense smoke may negatively impact brain health in older adults over 65 years of age. The study reported delays in cognitive performance and a decrease in brain connectivity, possibly due to the long-term air pollution caused by incense burning.
It is important to note that the health risks associated with incense burning are not limited to direct exposure. Similar to tobacco smoke, thirdhand incense smoke can linger on furniture, clothing, and other articles for months, affecting family members, including children, through secondhand and thirdhand exposure.
While incense burning has cultural and spiritual significance for many, it is essential to be aware of the potential health risks involved and take appropriate measures to mitigate these risks, such as using electric incense devices or improving ventilation when burning incense.
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Incense as a legal high
Incense, when referred to in the context of a "legal high", is often used to describe synthetic cannabinoids. These are man-made chemicals that are applied (often sprayed) onto plant material and then smoked. They are commonly sold in retail outlets as "herbal incense" or "potpourri" and are labelled "not for human consumption" to avoid regulatory oversight of the manufacturing process.
Synthetic cannabinoids are designed to mimic THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and are therefore abused for their psychoactive properties. They are often marketed and sold under various trade names or brands such as K2 and Spice. According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends, one in nine 12th graders in America reported using synthetic cannabinoids in the past year.
There are nearly 700 "herbal incense" blends available, and they are often called "synthetic marijuana", "natural herbs", "herbal incense", or "herbal smoking blends". These products are packaged without information about their health and safety risks, and their use has been associated with severe adverse effects, including agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, hallucinations, dilated pupils, and suicidal and other harmful thoughts and/or actions.
In recent years, there have been several outbreaks of severe bleeding caused by synthetic cannabinoids contaminated with brodifacoum, a rat poison that causes bleeding. In one instance, on July 12, 2016, 33 people were intoxicated by an herbal "incense" product called "AK-47 24 Karat Gold" in Brooklyn, with dozens overdosing.
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Frequently asked questions
Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that are applied to plant material and marketed as a "legal" high. They are designed to mimic THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Synthetic cannabinoids are often sold as "herbal incense" or "potpourri" and are known by brand names such as K2, Spice, RedX Dawn, Paradise, Demon, and many others.
The effects of synthetic cannabinoids can be unpredictable due to the varying chemicals used in their manufacturing. Some potential effects include severe agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations.
