The immediate effects of Cloud 9 mimic symptoms of cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, and ecstasy use and include nausea, rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, chest pain, irritability, dizziness, nosebleeds, and delusions. Users may also experience impaired impulse control and violent behavior.
The Dangers of the Synthetic Drug – Cloud-9
The times are changing, and there’s no doubt that drugs are changing with them. Only a few years ago, “synthetic drugs” (a.k.a. “designer drugs”) were limited to ecstasy and a handful of psychedelics. According to the UN’s Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment, there were 80 such drugs in 2008. Last year, that number had grown to 348. These drugs have caused some huge controversies. The “Miami Cannibal Attack” a few years ago was reported to involve “bath salts” (which turned out to be false). Now, a synthetic drug called “Cloud-9” has been linked to the hospitalizations of 6 teenagers.
What’s Cloud-9?There are a couple of drugs that go by this name. It’s the brand name of one strain of synthetic marijuana. However, the Cloud-9 (a.k.a. “Ivory Wave”) that has been making headlines is something else entirely. It’s part of the drugs that have been known as “bath salts”. Most bath salt drugs aren’t actually bath salts, but they’re called so because they look like the Epsom salts people use to take a relaxing soak. Ironically, Ivory Wave is actually sold as bath salts!
The Story of Cloud-9Like most synthetic drugs, Cloud-9 is sold for purposes other than getting high. While some drugs are incense, this is bath salt. One way or another, drug users figured out that they could get high on it, and now we know why: chemical tests have revealed that it contains the substance methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), although it’s not listed on the ingredients.
What are the Effects of Cloud-9/MDPV?MPDV is a cathionine, a class of drugs that have come to be known as “bath salts”. When taken it functions similarly to MDMA (ecstasy) and stimulants. Its desired effects include:
- Alertness
- Euphoria
- Increased concentration
- Increased energy
- Sexual arousal
- Sociability
- Anxiety
- Chest pains
- Emotional instability
- Headaches
- Heart problems
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Psychotic hallucinations
- Sore jaw
Check out the link from Forbes.com below for more information.
www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/10/02/the-mystery-of-cloud-9-how-drug-laws-make-drugs-more-dangerous/#3feb21ed66d8