Liberty Police See Increase in Incense Abuse

LIBERTY, May 10, 2010 - The Liberty Police Department (LPD) is seeing an increase in teens and young adults using incense and potpourri products to get high. The products can be purchased from retailers and currently, are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the products are usually labeled “Not For Human Consumption”, users typically smoke the product to get marijuana-like effects. The usual side effects of marijuana that users are looking for are sleepiness, relaxation, reduced blood pressure, and sedation. But the other side effects, which can’t be predicted, are hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, agitation, pale skin, elevated blood pressure and other dangerous side effects.

The products are marketed under different names like K2 and Space. Other popular product names are: Buzz, Spice, Magic Dragon, Dust, Serenity Now, Chimera, and Black Mamba. They sell for $15 - $40 for three gram packages. The incenses are a mixture of herbal and spice plant products, but are sprayed with a potent chemical that can cause many adverse effects. Sometimes the products look similar in appearance to marijuana, while other times they resemble potpourri.

LPD’s recent cases involving these products, had teenagers that were under the influence from smoking the mixtures. They exhibited the tell-tale signs of marijuana use, but were even more lethargic and “stoned”, than a typical marijuana user.

Several states aren’t waiting for the FDA to step in and regulate the products. Instead, they are pushing for the enactment of their own laws that can clamp down on what appears to be a growing problem. In February, the Kansas House and Senate passed a law prohibiting the product K2.

In Texas, while the products are still legal to purchase, users could still face charges related to intoxication laws that are already on the books. The offenses of Public Intoxication, Driving While Intoxicated, Intoxication Assault and Intoxication Manslaughter all have the same provision that defines when a person is intoxicated. Whenever a person may be a danger to themselves or others, because of the introduction of any substance that causes a person to not have the normal use of their mental or physical faculties, they can be arrested and charged with the relevant intoxication law.

The Liberty Police Department is urging parents to discuss these products, and the potentially dangerous trend amongst our youth. For more information, you can contact School Resource Officer Barbie Miller, or Community Services Officer Hugh Bishop at 936-336-5666.