Iowa officials warn parents about synthetic drug trend among teens

State officials issued a warning for parents about synthetic drugs Thursday.

Substances that mimic marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs are landing more teens in the emergency rooms.

K-2 and seven other synthetic drug compounds were been banned in July 2010, but that hasn't stopped teens from turning to other things like incense, bath salts, and even potpourri for the same hallucinatory effect.

"They may get their high, but they also can do real severe damage to their body," said Donald Linder, an emergency room physician at St. Luke's Hospital.

"People have been doing that with other things for years, I am sure it will pass. Just like other things did," said Grant Gilland, of Marion.

In Eastern Iowa, emergency room doctors said they have seen an increase in teens needing treatment after using these dangerous drugs.

"It's not something that has been over the last month, it has been the last six to eight months -- since the summer, we have been seeing kids coming," said Linder.

Officials said the drugs can be found at some "head shops" and gas stations in small, colorful packages. The Cedar Rapids Area Substance Abuse Council says that's one of two reasons teens say they do it --  the substances are easily accessible and don't test positive on a drug test.

"The drug tests we do is for common drugs of abuse, and these hallucinogens are not on that panel," said Linder.

Stroke, paranoia and suicidal thoughts are just a few potential side effects of smoking these unknown chemicals. That's why state officials are warning parents and asking for legislative change.

The Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy plans to ask lawmakers to expand the current ban in place.That would allow them to add synthetic drugs to the banned list as officials see fit.