Manufacturers of the synthetic version of marijuana known as "spice" are changing the recipe just enough to skirt state laws banning the substance, The Washington Post reports.

Makers of spice spray herbs with compounds that mimic marijuana's active ingredient, THC. Some spice users experience hallucinations, seizures, vomiting, anxiety and an accelerated heart rate, the article notes.

In December, the U.S. House voted to ban more than 30 synthetic substances, including spice. The Synthetic Drug Control Act would make it illegal to manufacture or dispense the drugs. The bill would also give the Drug Enforcement Administration more authority to put temporary bans on potentially hazardous drugs as they are being investigated. The bill has moved to the Senate.

According to the recent Monitoring the Future survey, one in every nine high school seniors (11.4 percent) reported using synthetic marijuana in the prior 12 months.

About 40 states regulate spice, according to the newspaper. Authorities have found that in some cases, the spice seized by police does not contain chemicals that are banned by state law. There are potentially hundreds of synthetic compounds that could be substituted for ones that are currently banned.

In some states, laws banning spice include a provision that prohibits chemicals that are intended to act in a similar way to the banned substances. But scientists say not enough is known about the new substances to prove they are similar to the original versions.

The drug is popular in part because most drug tests do not detect spice, and it is available on many websites, according to the article.

www.drugfree.org

www.washingtonpost.com

  Valley Clinical Services Provides Specialty Group Programs for Adolescents

Valley Clinical Services offers group programs for adolescents which include Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse groups, Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder groups, and Dialetical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups.

Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse:

This is an open-ended group that meets 3 times per week for 3-4 hours per session. The Seven Challenges®, a nationally recognized, evidence-based curriculum is used to guide the group. The curriculum explores learning about making thoughtful decisions about one's life and sobriety. Individuals will develop a better understanding of their own personal values, beliefs and strengths. A family involvement night is held one time per week to build supports and foster communication between the individual and their family, in addition to teaching family members how to support a sober lifestyle   

Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder:

VCS's Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Program is an open-ended group that meets 3 times per week for 3-4 hours. The group is facilitated by a Primary Therapist, a Family Therapist, a DBT Skills Therapist and a Registered Dietician. The group follows a journey of self-exploration, self-repair and planning for the future. The program works on building self-esteem in each individual, preparing them to make sound decisions and supporting them in maintaining healthy relationships with food and exercise.  

DBT Skills Adolescent Groups:

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is an evidenced-based therapy used to increase coping skills in order to reduce emotional distress and to prevent clients from acting on self destructive urges. The therapist uses DBT skills to help participants become more effective in their relationships through teaching skills that increase effective communication. The therapist will also use DBT skills to teach individuals how to identify, regulate and therefore have more control over their emotions.

Please call the office at (480) 661-1075 for more information on the adolescent groups or to schedule an intake.

Nicole Zangara, LCSW, is a 2008 graduate of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, and completed her undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C.

While at the Brown School of Social Work, Nicole did her first practicum at Kids in the Middle in St. Louis. She focused on helping children, adolescents and parents through divorce and separation. Her second practicum was at St. Louis' Jewish Family and Children's Service where she counseled individuals and couples in therapy.  After receiving her MSW, Nicole did her postgraduate fellowship in social work at Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas.  While at Menninger, Nicole worked with young adults (ages 18 to 30) who struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse and family conflict.  After completing her postgraduate fellowship, Nicole then worked at Jewish Family Service.  She treated people of all ages who were experiencing a multitude of emotional disorders, such as depression, anxiety and interpersonal difficulties. 

At VCS, Nicole will be providing individual and family therapy services, and will additionally be leading the adolescent DBT group.

VCS welcomes Nicole and is excited to have another skilled professional joining our organization!