10 Things To Know About Synthetic Drugs

By William Perno, Retired San Diego County Deputy Sheriff and SAY San Diego Senior Prevention Specialist

Synthetic drugs, also called new psychoactive substances (NPS) or designer drugs, are lab-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of drugs like marijuana, stimulants, hallucinogens, or opioids. Because their formulas change constantly and their packaging doesn’t list ingredients, people who use them can’t know what they’re taking or how strong it is.

Retired San Diego County Deputy Sheriff and SAY San Diego Senior Prevention Specialist William Perno is a subject-matter expert on synthetic drugs. Mr. Perno has testified in support of synthetic drug legislation at the California State Assembly and provided trainings to community groups, school districts, students, teachers, parents, health care and prevention providers, drug-free community coalitions, policy makers, and law enforcement throughout California. Mr. Perno was recognized by then-City Attorney Jan Goldsmith as a key educator and an activist who assisted in the creation of San Diego’s synthetic drug ordinance.

Common Types of Synthetic Drugs

Synthetic drugs fall into a few main groups, each designed to imitate a different kind of drug:

• Synthetic cannabinoids (“K2,” “Spice”): chemicals sprayed on plant material to mimic THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana
• Synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”): stimulants such as mephedrone, methylone, and MDPV, related to a substance found in the khat plant
• Synthetic hallucinogens: drugs such as the 2C family and “N-bomb” (NBOMe), sometimes sold as LSD
• Synthetic opioids: illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs such as carfentanil, which are often pressed into counterfeit pills
• Unregulated “gas station” products: substances such as tianeptine, which the FDA warns is not approved for any medical use and is linked to serious harm, overdoses, and death

10 Things to Know About Synthetic Drugs

1. There are hundreds of different chemical formulas for Synthetic Cannabinoids (“Spice,” “K2”) and Synthetic Stimulants (“Bath Salts”).
2. “Spice” is a toxic, man-made, chemical drug. There is nothing plant based about the drug. The drug is sprayed/laced onto plant material. The plant material is the fuel source to burn and vaporize the chemicals. Inhaling or ingesting the chemical fumes/chemicals causes the high.
3. Synthetic drugs are marked “Not for Human Consumption” to avoid Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and federal drug laws. There is no medicinal or legitimate use for these drugs. These dangerous drugs are deliberately and falsely mislabeled as household products when in reality they are intended as drugs of abuse.
4. The packaging used for synthetic drugs does not state what chemicals are contained inside the package. The end user has no idea what type of synthetic drug, potency/purity, or other contaminants/adulterants are contained inside. There is no information on who to contact if there is an adverse reaction.
5. Use of these drugs is Chemical Russian Roulette! Synthetic drugs affect people differently, and effects can range from a strong high to serious injury and death from one-time use. There were no clinical trials, no human studies, and the long-term effects of these drugs are unknown. People who use these drugs are “human guinea pigs.”
6. Synthetic drugs can be deadly in microgram doses (equivalent to 15–25 grains of salt).
7. Synthetic drugs can be sold in retail stores, street sales, and on the Internet.
8. There are specialized tests to detect synthetic drugs. These tests are more expensive than the drug tests that detect traditional controlled substances. Not all agencies/organizations test for synthetic drugs. As new chemical formulas are released, the tests need to be updated.
9. Poison Control Center data is under-reported for synthetic drug use. There is no mandatory reporting requirement for hospitals and first responders. There were more than 950 “Spice” poisonings within the City of San Diego from March 2015 through October 2016.
10. Synthetic drug chemical formulas are continually changing, as drug dealers/manufacturers change the chemical formula to stay ahead of legislative changes. Local city ordinances can be utilized to address gaps in state and/or federal legislation. The cities of San Diego and Oceanside have updated synthetic drug ordinances.

Why Synthetic Drugs Are Even More Dangerous Today

Since this article was first published, illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has become the most dangerous synthetic drug on the street. It’s often pressed into counterfeit pills made to look like prescription medications, or mixed into other drugs without the buyer’s knowledge.

• In 2024, 5 out of 10 fake prescription pills tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. As little as 2 milligrams can be deadly.
• Median monthly overdose deaths among U.S. adolescents ages 10–19 more than doubled (up 109%) from mid-2019 to late 2021, and about 84% involved illicit fentanyl, according to the CDC. About 1 in 4 of those deaths showed evidence of counterfeit pill use.
• In San Diego County, 945 people died from an overdose in 2024, a 21% decrease from 2023. Fentanyl and methamphetamine remained the leading causes, according to the County of San Diego.

Warning Signs of Synthetic Drug Use

The effects of synthetic drugs vary widely, but the DEA reports that synthetic cannabinoids can cause a racing heart, high blood pressure, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures. Synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”) can cause paranoia, psychosis, aggression, and a dangerously high body temperature. Parents may also notice changes like these in a teen:

• Sudden changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or friend groups
• Unusual anxiety, paranoia, confusion, or agitation
• Slipping grades or loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
• Unexplained packets labeled “not for human consumption,” “incense,” or “potpourri”
• Pills that don’t come from a pharmacy, or unexplained purchases online

One sign alone doesn’t mean a teen is using drugs, but a pattern is worth a calm, caring conversation.

What to Do in an Emergency

If someone has a seizure, loses consciousness, has trouble breathing, or shows signs of an overdose, call 911 immediately. For questions about a possible poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential, 24/7). If opioids like fentanyl might be involved, give naloxone (Narcan) if it’s available. The County of San Diego offers free naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips at locations across the county.

How to Talk to Your Teen About Synthetic Drugs

The most effective prevention starts at home. Talk early and often, stay calm, and listen more than you lecture. Explain that synthetic drugs aren’t “safe” or “legal” alternatives: their ingredients are unknown, one pill or one hit can be deadly, and pills from friends or social media may contain fentanyl. Late October’s Red Ribbon Week is a natural time to start the conversation, but any day works.

Where to Find Help in San Diego

• SAY San Diego’s prevention team: SAY’s Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Prevention program works with schools, youth coalitions, and communities across San Diego to prevent youth substance use, including fentanyl and overdose prevention education.
• Safe medication disposal: SAY’s Stash Your Stash campaign helps families lock up and safely dispose of medications at home.
• Support at school: SAY’s school-based behavioral health services help students build coping skills and connect to care.
• Treatment and referrals: the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential treatment referrals 24/7, and the San Diego Access & Crisis Line (888-724-7240) connects residents to local behavioral health and substance use services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Synthetic Drugs

What are synthetic drugs?

Synthetic drugs, also called new psychoactive substances or designer drugs, are lab-made chemicals designed to mimic the effects of drugs like marijuana, stimulants, hallucinogens, or opioids. Common examples include K2 and Spice (synthetic cannabinoids), bath salts (synthetic cathinones), and illicit fentanyl. Their formulas change often, so users can’t know what they’re taking or how strong it is.

Do synthetic drugs show up on a drug test?

Many synthetic drugs don’t show up on standard drug screens. Detecting them usually requires specialized tests that cost more and aren’t used by every agency or employer. Because manufacturers keep changing the chemical formulas, those tests must be updated regularly, and new synthetic substances can go undetected.

Are synthetic drugs illegal?

Yes, many are. The federal Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 placed many synthetic cannabinoids, plus mephedrone, MDPV, and several 2C hallucinogens, in Schedule I. The Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986 also treats many look-alike chemicals as Schedule I drugs. Manufacturers change formulas to get around these laws, which is why cities like San Diego and Oceanside have added local ordinances.

How are synthetic drugs different from natural drugs?

Natural drugs, like marijuana, come from plants, while synthetic drugs are made from chemical compounds in a lab. Synthetic versions are unregulated, their ingredients are unknown, and they can be far more potent than the drugs they imitate. That makes side effects, overdose, and long-term harm much harder to predict.

Contact William Perno through SAY San Diego’s Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Prevention program for more information on free trainings for your community.