Military has tough stance on Spice Published May 26, 2011 Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Absolutely no tolerance. A recent article in the Air Force Times denoted that Air Force leaders "want to send a clear message about the health and career gambles associated with the drug, as indicated by the service's zero tolerance policy regarding illegal substance use or possession." The military has banned "designer drugs" under Department of Defense directive 1010-3.4 and Air Force Instruction 44-120 Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment. Air Force officials recently updated AFI 44-120 Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment and issued an updated memorandum for AFI 44-121 Military Drug Demand Reduction Program revising both these instructions respectively. The revisions prohibit the ingestion of any substance, other than alcohol or tobacco, for the purpose of altering mood or function. The possession of any intoxicating substance, if done with the intent to use in a manner that would alter mood or function, is also prohibited. The regulation also states that Airmen using Spice could be found in violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and face dishonorable discharge, confinement for two years, and total forfeiture of all pay and allowances. Enlisted members also face reduction to the lowest enlisted grade." The military is now capable of conducting urinalysis testing for spice detection. Deceptive Packaging Because they're sold as incense, products like Spice, G-Four, K2 and Mojo don't have to list all of their ingredients. And the ingredients they don't list are not only potentially dangerous; some of them can get you in trouble with the law to include the military. Spice, sold as an "herbal smoking mixture" (while clearly marked on the package as not for human consumption), was the subject of a forensic chemical investigation. The effects of the drug-a longer-lasting, more powerful, marijuana-like high-were too powerful to be caused by the listed ingredients. Testing discovered the truth: it was laced with HU-210, the illegal laboratory created cannabinoid. Guinea Pig You HU-210, like the other chemical agents used in these "smoking mixtures," is a research chemical. Do not make the mistake of thinking that these chemicals are safe. These are mainly untested chemicals with unknown toxicity, addiction potential, long-term effects and allergic reactions. In other words, unknown danger. People who smoke this junk are literally making themselves into science experiments. There is no way of knowing which of these experimental chemicals you're taking: the company won't tell you and tests have shown three different chemicals in three different samples. Each batch was different. This is bad news not only because the smoker can't count on getting the same mixture twice in a row-increasing the chance of a bad reaction but also because at least one of the active chemicals shows up on drug tests. HU-210 is as illegal as any other illicit drug and it does show up on marijuana tests. Anyone who thinks they can get high and escape drug tests is in for a rude awakening. More Than Bargained For They sell it all over, how strong could it be? The answer is, too strong. If you're thinking about trying any of these herbal incenses because you think they might be safer or less potent than marijuana, think again. Marijuana users who switch to these mixtures because of probation, occupational drug testing or as a way to try to quit using marijuana describe it as being stronger, longer lasting and having more negative effects. Users report greater anxiety, nausea, paranoia, discomfort, confusion and a desire for the feeling to end. The Bottom Line The fact is that these herbal incenses and smoking mixtures are not herbal, not safe and not legal. It's not safer than marijuana, can show up on drugs tests and lawmakers are working to make them illegal in the United States just like they are in the military, Austria, Chile, Germany, France, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia and South Korea. For more information go to www.intheknownzone.com or call the Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment office at 739-7141.