The Wiz Drug Craze
At the end of February 2022, ISS said that a new synthetic drug called Wiz was being sold in Durban, which is on the east coast of South Africa. At the time, schoolchildren were the main ones who used the drug because it came in small, appealing packages. The drug wasn’t known to the police until one of the schoolchildren who had smoked it passed out at school.
South Africa has had synthetic drugs like methamphetamines and Mandrax tablets for a long time, but it wasn’t clear if any new psychoactive substances were there. Wiz shows this to be true.
What is in the Wiz Drug?
Wiz belongs to a new class of psychoactive drugs that haven’t been named yet, but it’s likely a synthetic cannabinoid like the one found in Gauteng. In 2018, a drug that looked like marijuana and could be bought over the counter was found in Pretoria. When forensic tests were done on the item, they showed that it was an illegal drug. Analysis of samples showed that a certain kind of synthetic cannabinoid was present.
Synthetic cannabinoids can be up to 100 times stronger than regular cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are mind-altering chemicals made by humans and are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material to be smoked or sold as liquids that can be vaporised and inhaled through e-cigarettes and other devices. People also call these things herbal incense or liquid incense.
Synthetic cannabinoids often say “not for human consumption” on the label. A lot of labels also say that they are made with natural ingredients from different plants. But the only natural part of these products is the dried plant material. Chemical tests show that the ingredients that change your mind are lab-made cannabinoid compounds.
Can you get addicted to the Wiz drug?
Yes, it is possible to get hooked on synthetic cannabinoids. When regular users try to stop, the following withdrawal symptoms may happen:
- headaches
- anxiety
- depression
- anger
Synthetic cannabinoids can also cause serious mental and physical health problems, such as:
- Fast heart rate
- Vomiting
- Acting violently
- Suicidal thoughts
The long-term results
The Wiz drug can eventually lead to mental health problems, heart problems, and changes in behaviour and thinking.
The Wiz drug should not be used by people who have mental health problems or who have a family history of these problems.
People who use synthetic cannabinoids are more likely to have anxiety and depression symptoms, and long-term use is strongly linked to serious mental health conditions.
Psychosis can happen to both healthy and vulnerable people who use synthetic cannabinoids.
And compared to cannabis, the psychotic effects of synthetic cannabinoids are worse and can last for weeks after the last use.
ARCA rehabs can help you and your loved ones if your use of synthetic cannabinoids is hurting your health, family, relationships, work, school, finances, or other parts of your life.
