drug awareness

darnold1975

Designer Drugs: The Chemical Experiments

“People will continue to die. People will continue to have adverse reactions. People will continue to live with the consequences of their choices down the road.”

-Jan Rozga, a mother whose son committed suicide after smoking synthetic marijuana

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to dive into a subject that most have heard of but don’ t know a lot about. The topic is designer drugs.

You don’t need to be a scientist to understand designer drugs. You just need to know this. Designer drugs are chemicals made to look harmless, but they can be far more dangerous than the drugs they imitate. They show up in places parents don’t expect. They’re marketed in ways that feel safe. And they’re evolving faster than most families can keep up with. Designer drugs are created by changing the chemical structure of existing drugs just enough to make them.

  • Harder to detect
  • Harder to regulate
  • Easier to sell

They’re often sold as:

  • Vape cartridges
  • Edibles
  • Pills that look like Xanax, Adderall, or Percocet
  • “Herbal incense” (K2/Spice)
  • “Bath salts”
  • Powders labeled “not for human consumption”

The packaging looks harmless. The chemicals inside are anything but harmless. Most young people who encounter designer drugs don’t realize they’re using something synthetic. But designer drugs are often mixed into these products without the user’s knowledge. That’s why overdoses happen even when someone thinks they’re being careful.

Designer drugs can be more dangerous than the ones they’re attempting to mimic. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these substances can be:

  • More potent
  • More unpredictable
  • More toxic

Some new synthetic opioids (like nitazenes) are so strong that a few grains can be fatal. Some synthetic cannabinoids (fake weed) can cause:

These reactions can happen on the first use, even in small amounts.

The 2024 Synthetic Cannabinoid/Designer Drug Listing identifies several new chemicals now appearing in toxicology screens, including:

To the average person like myself, these letters are meant to confuse, not to inform. Parents don’t need to memorize the names. They just need to know new chemicals appear constantly, and they’re often more dangerous than the ones before. The signs of designer drug use aren’t always obvious. Because these drugs vary so much, symptoms can look like:

If something feels “off,” trust your instincts. Designer drugs don’t follow predictable patterns. And as parents, we must listen to our gut about our children and their behavior.

What Can Parents Do Right Now?

  • Stay curious, not judgmental. Kids talk more when they feel safe.
  • Learn the basics. You don’t need to be an expert only informed.
  • Watch for sudden changes. Mood, sleep, appetite, or behavior shifts matter.
  • Talk early and often. Not just during crises.
  • Normalize asking questions. “If you ever see something weird, you can always ask me.”

You don’t need perfect answers. You just need presence. The goal isn’t fear. It’s awareness. You don’t have to lecture. You don’t have to scare. You don’t have to know every chemical name. What matters most is creating a space where your child feels safe saying:

  • “I saw this at school.”
  • “Someone offered me this.”
  • “I don’t know what this is.”

Open conversations save lives. Shame and silence do the opposite.

At the end of the day, every conversation about designer drugs comes back to one simple truth: we’re all just trying to keep the people we love safe in a world that changes faster than any of us can track. These substances aren’t just chemical formulas or scary headlines. They’re real risks that touch real families, often without warning.

But knowledge is a kind of light. And when we shine that light into the shadows, fear loses its power.

If you’re a parent, a guardian, a mentor, or simply someone who loves a young person, your presence matters more than you know. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to stay open, stay curious, and stay willing to talk about the hard things before they become emergencies. Because the truth is this: Connection protects. Conversation protects. Awareness protects.

And remember, you’re not alone. Every step you take toward understanding is a step toward safety, compassion, and a future where the people you love feel seen, supported, and empowered to make choices that honor their lives. Thanks for reading! Keep moving forward. 

Affirmation: I am in control of my decisions.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Beware Of Deadly 7-0H Products

“It is dangerous, misleading, and illegal” and a “massive fraud on consumers that puts their safety directly at risk.”

–American Kratom Association

 Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to talk to you about the deadly synthetic opioid products known as 7-OH (gas station heroin). You might think that these products are safe. But there is only one descriptive term for them…..DANGEROUS.

Let me break down the problems associated with these products. The product is so dangerous that the FDA  is specifically targeting the 7-OH products a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant. They are not focused on the natural kratom leaf products. These products have a high potential for abuse because they bind to opioid receptors. They are not FDA-approved 7-OH opioid products. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. is quoted saying, “7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine” (https://www.fda.gov, 2025).

What is 7-OH? –hydroymitragynine is a powerful opioid-like compound found in the leaves of the kratom plant. While this compound is naturally in trace amounts because manufacturers have begun to concentrate or synthesize it into highly potent and addictive products. They are sold at gas stations, vape shops and smoke shops. At this time, anyone of any age can purchase these products. And they are appealing to kids and teens because they are also made into edibles.

“It’s a recipe for a public health disaster.”

-Jim O’Neill, U.S. Department of

 Health and Human Services

·        Significantly stronger than morphine:Some synthetic products are reportedly 13 to 40 times more potent than morphine.

·        Intense opioid effects: these include pain relief, euphoria, and sedation.

·        High risk of dependence and addiction:Regular use can quickly lead to physical and psychological dependence with severe withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped.

·        Serious adverse effects: There have been a notable rise in emergency room visits with symptoms that include nausea, agitation, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures  and respiratory depression that can be fatal.

Difference between natural and concentrated 7-OH

·       Natural kratom: in the natural form as a plant leaf, kratom contains only a small amount of 7-OH (less than 2%). It is often used for its mild stimulant or opioid-like effects, but the risk profile is significantly different from highly concentrated products.

·       Concentrated/Synthetic 7-OH: lab created product where the 7-OH has been concentrated to a higher potency reaching 98%. These unregulated products are sold in forms like gummies, drinks, and tablets ((https://www.dshs.texas.gov, 2025).

I cannot express enough the dangerousness of these products. I, for one, fell in love with heroin and pills many years ago. And what a difficult process it has been to break free from those substances. Because “One is too many. And a thousand is never enough.” That’s how addiction works. Parents if you think that this is all a bunch of hoopla for nothing, you are dead wrong. This product scares me like most can’t. We have enough of an “opiate crisis” without introducing more into the family line. Educate yourself and your children. It just might save lives. Thanks for reading!

Affirmation: I have the ability to make a different choice.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

What Are The Streets Saying? Fentanyl

“The DEA is part of the army of good working people  working against the evil of drugs. The cartels deal in death, but we fight for life. This is not about politics; it’s about survival. Together, as one nation, we will end this  fentanyl crisis and protect our people.”

-Acting Administrator, Derek Maltz

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I’m going to discuss one of the leading killers in our nation, FENTANYL. The correct pronunciation is (Fen-ta-nil). Fentanyl is a very powerful synthetic opioid that is used in surgery as an anesthetic to control severe pain. However, over the past decade, the drug has made its way into the illicit drug supply by way of cartels who are supplied most of the time from China where fentanyl is manufactured. And the street value of a counterfeit pill of fentanyl ranges from $1 to $3 a pill. And this is why fentanyl is so affordable and appealing to anyone.

With the opioid crisis that began in the 1990s and the lack of alternative pain control, chronic pain sufferers were forced to go to the streets to handle it themselves. I also suffer from chronic pain. A few years ago when I was living in Texas, no matter how much I told my doctors about my increasing nerve pain that has spread all over my body, no one would help me. I began to think that maybe my medical issues weren’t legit. What I soon found out was that the fear of healthcare professionals of persecution because of doctors who went too far and had opened clinics called “pill mills.” These were clinics that resembled pain clinics that were prescribed  without sufficient medical history. Patients in  these types of facilities received only prescriptions as a cash only transaction.

“Overdose deaths involving primarilyfentanyl totaled 73,838 reported in 2022”

(nida.nih.gov, 2024). 

The result was an astronomical amount going to people for forming both a physical and mental addiction on these drugs. What it also caused was the people with legitimate pain issues who had no access to medications that made their pain tolerable. Chronic pain will lead you to a couple of different places for relief. The streets where pills are sold illicitly or suicide. It’s not always about wanting to be a criminal. And unfortunately, our nation didn’t have answers to help with those needs. I had used medical cannabis previously when I lived in Albuquerque, NM. Texas, however, was a big southern slow towards that goal.

I tried everything I could get my hands on to help manage my pain without success. So, I headed to the streets for relief. I went down into the area of south Dallas which was nothing but hoodrats and drug dealers. And I was only able to go into those areas because I was with someone else who was already well known in that area. I was a gay white female who people there thought was a cop. I might be a lot of things but a narc I am not. I’ll be honest, that area was scary as hell. But I felt that I had no other options. And so I started buying pills from a dealer.

“The latest DEA laboratory testing announced earlier this fall, indicates that 5 out of every 10 pills tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. For perspective, one gram of fentanyl, equivalent in size to a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to 500 people.” (DEA.gov, 2024).

At the time, pills were going for $1/mg. This means that a pharmaceutical pain pill that was 30mg went for $30. And because these pills were harder to come by means that the prices were constantly increasing. So, I might get pain relief for one night. The next day I was in horrible pain yet again. When you buy drugs off the street, you are forced to unfortunately buy what is available. And some of it is pretty difficult to come by. And each time you take the medication you are playing Russian roulette. And I didn’t care. I needed relief like I needed air. 

I was only able to buy morphine 60mg tablets which equaled $60/day which was impossible to come by for me. Buying on the streets is always a crapshoot about being able to stay in contact with more than one dealer. It’s a game of who if anyone will come through for you. Desperation will lead you to doing irrational things. And it was worth it at the time. I consider myself incredible that I didn’t become a statistic to fentanyl. And I never became addicted to anything that I used there. 

“Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine.”

(DEA.gov, 2024)

Fentanyl is in everything now. If kids get some pills from a friend that bought them from a dealer and it has been cut with fentanyl, they’re dead. Narcan, which is a medication that helps to reverse the effects of an opiate, definitely helps to reverse overdose. But what if you took the pill right before you got into bed hoping for a nice, peaceful sleep pain free? No one is there and narcan then means nothing.

While growing up in the 80’s the drugs were still safe to experiment with. But now they’re not. Fentanyl is one of those drugs that has seemed to grab my attention about its hidden dangers.  Some people are being intentionally poisoned due to fentanyl. And it scares the hell out of me for my kids.

I invite you to watch videos on YouTube about fentanyl awareness. One of my personal favorites is Texas Documentaries that has a new video every couple of days about how fentanyl  has destroyed so many lives and their families. Have fun. Stay safe. And educate yourselves and those you love about the dangers of fentanyl.

“We’ve been at the forefront of this fight against synthetic opioids since the very beginning. We are committed to combating  fentanyl, and the men and women of CBP are up to the task.”

-CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife