SPICE GIRLS: SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID INTOXICATION

Background: Spice refers to various synthetic cannabinoid-containing products that seem to have rapidly become popular recreational drugs of abuse. Very little medical literature currently exists detailing the adverse effects and emergency department (ED) presentations associated with spice use. Objectives: To describe the presentation of 2 patients who recreationally used a spice product and to briefly summarize what is known about spice and synthetic cannabinoids. Case Report: Two patients presented to the ED with, predominantly, anxiety after recreationally using a spice product that we subsequently confirmed to contain the synthetic cannabinoids, JWH-018 and JWH-073. Conclusion: We suspect that use of spice products may increase. Although anxiety was a prominent presentation in both of the patients described here, undoubtedly, future studies will describe the manifestations of intoxication and toxicity with the various synthetic cannabinoids. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc.