New Drug 'Smiles' Appeals to Teens, Frightens Authorities
A new drug is making the rounds with teenagers, and this particular drug, with the street name "smiles," has officials extremely concerned. Two teens have already died after overdosing on the drug, which can cause seizures, kidney failure, fatal blood pressure and body temperature.
"Smiles" is actually a combination of drugs and has the official name of 2C-I, which is a very powerful, synthetic psychedelic drug. Teens are beginning to experiment with the drug in order to obtain a "safe high," which is unheard of, given the fact that there is no such thing.
"Smiles" is similar to a combination of MDMA and LSD and can cause "intense visual and aural hallucinations that can last anywhere from hours to days," officials told Yahoo Shine.
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"The unfortunate thing is if kids who are overdosing on 2C-I go into the hospital with a physical problem, a lot of times they can't test for it so it doesn't show up as a drug overdose," Lindsay Wold, a detective, added.
"Smiles" falls into a similar category as the infamous bath salts, which can also cause psychological hallucinations and extreme body temperature. Bath salts have been blamed for a series of attacks earlier this year after users suffering from high fevers tried to find relief and instead harmed others.
In Pennsylvania, Richard Cimino Jr. was charged with aggravated assault, indecent exposure and criminal mischief after stripping and entering a vacant home in the nude. After jumping from a second-story window, Cimino encountered two women and attacked one, allegedly gnawing at her head and "screaming like an animal."
He was hospitalized, and Cimino reportedly told police he took bath salts before the ordeal. Drug tests have been performed, and authorities are waiting for results.
Part of the problem with "Smiles" is the appeal to a younger generation who is extremely connected through the Internet and social media.
"Drugs used to take longer to get around, but now with the Internet they can spread by word of mouth or online," Barbara Carreno, spokeswoman for the DEA, told Shine.
In fact, users have posted videos of themselves while using the drug, as well as provided commentary on their experience. While some of the videos discourage teens from using the drug, others could be seen as an endorsement or even a dare to experiment. The influence of peer pressure may be a significant factor in the drug's popularity.
