As Austin-Travis County EMS has dealt with a spike in K2 patient calls, many are asking what makes synthetic cannabinoids so dangerous – and so difficult to stop.
“Four years ago, I was a commander downtown. And that's when we were having problems with it as well. So to see it still be an emerging threat to the homeless populations, to the citizens of Austin, is definitely not a surprise, but it's definitely on the uptick,” explained Austin Police Department Assistant Chief Jason Dusterhoft.
From December 2016 through March 2017, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to 1,339 patient contacts, with possible synthetic cannabinoid involvement.
That’s more than the combined number of related patient contacts from April 2012 through January 2015 and represented the worst four-month stretch since authorities began tracking numbers.
Law enforcement has been aware of the problem for years, but cracking down on it has been far tougher than simply identifying its existence.
First, unlike other drugs, there’s no field test for synthetic cannabinoids. That delays the arrest process, allowing dealers back out on the streets.
“If I catch you with K2 on it, I'm going to identify you. As long as you don't have any other warrants, I'm going to have to let you go. And then we're looking at a process that can take up to six months just to test the substance,” said Dusterhoft.
He explained, APD is working to find a test that could test the substance in a month, thus speeding up the legal process.
Even its chemical makeup is a challenge.
Synthetic cannabinoids lack uniformity, creating a continuous cat-and-mouse game between the legal system and drug manufacturers.
For years, chemists have been able to slightly modify ingredients to skirt the law.
“The law has changed where now it is a much more wide array of chemical substances; that helped us,” said Dusterhoft.
Since October 2016, Austin Police have issued more than 100 first-degree felony warrants, a sign that the law is starting to catch up to dealers.
“Not only are the chemicals in those products changing, but the way that they’re being prepared is also changing,” said Dr. Adam Winstock, who runs the London-based Global Drug Survey.
His organization collects and analyzes data with the goal of making drug use safer.
“Five years ago the only product you would find would be a herbal material that you’ve got something sprayed on. Now you’ve got herbal materials, resin materials, powders, and liquids. You have synthetic cannabinoid products that are being custom-made for vaping devices. So… there’s a rapidly growing group of drugs that are hugely diverse in their effect. And that’s (the) other problem is, we talk about ‘synthetic cannabinoids’ – they vary hugely in their risk. They’re not a single group of drugs,” said Winstock.
As the problem has expanded, so has the list of banned substances, which authorities hope will increase the difficulty for suppliers.
Early returns have shown it’s made a dent. Since October, Dusterhoft said police have filed more than 100 first-degree felony arrest warrants.
Synthetic cannabinoids have especially affected the homeless community around the ARCH, as its previously stated legal ambiguity, combined with low price have made them an easy target.
“When you look at it, it's just $5 a stick to get K2.. .that's cheap,” said Dusterhoft.
Even its marketing has been a problem.
“My biggest concern is that people are literally comparing marijuana to K2. They're nothing. That's like comparing marijuana to heroin. Just because it's basically sprayed on leaves, this chemical compound, that doesn't mean it's synthetic marijuana. Marijuana is marijuana. Heroin is heroin. K2, in my opinion, is worse than any of those (drugs),” said Dusterhoft.
“It was a great marketing ploy by people trying to sell synthetic cannabinoid products by saying – ‘yeah this is a bit like weed’,” said Dr. Winstock. “It acts in the same receptor, but the way that it acts, the intensity with (which) it acts, and the overall effect that you get is nothing like… weed.”
He believed more comprehensive treatment options should be developed for users.
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“It's unlikely that drug use is the only problem those people have got. And if you focus just on the drug use, you're not going to get anywhere,” Dr. Winstock said.
Some have suggested that legalizing marijuana would decrease the number of synthetic cannabinoid users.
In 2014, the first year marijuana was legal in Colorado, the Drug Policy Alliance reported arrests for synthetic cannabinoids in that state dropped by 50 percent.
But Dr. Winstock believed that policy change would do little in the overall battle.
“There was probably an opportunity three or four years ago before the drugs became entrenched before they became sold, marketed, and got their market, where actually – if cannabis had been more freely available without fear of incriminations, it may have stopped the stem,” said Dr. Winstock.
To combat the spread of the synthetic cannabinoids, APD has shifted their attention by targeting the dealers, while spreading awareness of the drug’s dangers to the public. Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Austin Police have teamed up to hammer the issue home.
“I think there are a lot more people who are aware of K2 now than were aware of it just a few months ago, and I think that's important,” explained Mayor Adler.
Austin Police have devoted more resources to the ARCH, to try and stop the flow of drugs to the homeless.
“It’s trading on some of the most vulnerable folks we have in our community, in the homeless population. So it’s a real concern,” said Adler.
But for an understaffed department, it's easier said than done.
David Roche, the president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, says there are not enough cops on the streets.
“I don't want our number of police officers to be like our traffic problems. If we ignore it long enough, we're not going to be able to afford the fix. It's going to get so far ahead of us, that it's too expensive to take care of,” said Roche.
Roche believes the use of synthetic cannabinoids has far-reaching effects.
“I think that this prays on our tourists. I think it prays on our downtown business community. As people run out of money, I think you’ll see property crimes go up. There’s going to be more desperation of people trying to get a secure batch of (synthetic cannabinoids). So it really affects all of us,” said Roche.
So far, APD has resorted to overtime to make sure the area is properly staffed. While Dusterhoft is confident the department will eventually return to proper staffing levels, Roche is concerned about the current predicament.
Shorthanded or not, it's a problem APD can't afford to ignore.
“It can be an instant high, it's an aggressive, or death. Now they're playing Russian Roulette with their own body for five dollars,” said Dusterhoft.