And, since these drugs are widely accessible and easy to hide, it’s likely that trends of synthetic cannabinoid use will continue into the new year. Even though there have been several reports of synthetic cannabinoid-related overdoses since 2015, these products remain incredibly popular among smokers, especially among young adults and teenagers. Others vaporize it and smoke it through an e-cigarette or vape pen. Some users spray the liquid drug on dried, shredded plant material and smoke it like a cigarette. These street drugs, especially K2/Spice, have two routes of administration. Synthetic cannabinoids are human-made mind-altering chemicals that come in liquid form. Read more about the emerging e-cigarette trend here. Although the FDA and other organizations are currently working to ensure that teens do not have access to potentially addictive and development-stinting chemicals through vaping, the e-cigarette trend is bound to continue into 2019. In April of 2018 alone, the FDA cited a total of forty e-cigarette retailers for violations regarding their marketing tactics. Moreover, several reports show that teenagers who use e-cigarettes or vapes did not initially realize that they contain substances like nicotine. In fact, many vaping products contain nicotine and other addictive substances. While casual smokers would argue that vaping is safe, the FDA argues otherwise.
E-Cigarettes and VapesĮ-cigarettes and vapes have been growing in popularity over the last few years, especially among young adults and even teens. We may continue to see trends of it in 2019. Kratom use has been on the rise even after the salmonella outbreak. Still, that has not stopped users from finding ways to get it. Since then, many states have outlawed kratom. During the outbreak, a total of 28 people in 20 states contracted salmonella. In February 2018, the FDA and CDC linked a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections back to products containing kratom.
This may sound harmless, but this drug carries more risks than rewards. The tree’s leaves contain a psychoactive opioid that can treat pain and boost mood. Kratom comes from a tropical deciduous tree native to Southeast Asia. Based on that information, here are the top 10 most dangerous street drugs that could drive drug overdose trends in 2019. Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on emerging trends and patterns in the United States has revealed a list of street drugs with persistent trends. Moreover, opioids are not the only threat to the nation’s overall health. Unfortunately, these trends may continue into the new year. In fact, the rates of drug overdose death have reduced the national rate of life expectancy for the last three years in a row. As the opioid epidemic rages on, drug overdose deaths are at an all-time high.