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Synthetic drugs continue to raise concern

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  For the past two years, the synthetic marijuana commonly known as spice, has become more prevalent in the military and in Okaloosa County.

Incidents involving service members abusing the herbal mixture "spice" prompted uniformed service leaders to stress the ramifications of using the drug and other prohibited substances in February 2011.

Recently, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Niceville Police Department and the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco conducted four simultaneous search warrant raids on specialty shops around the county that are selling controlled substances commonly known as "Spice" and "bath salts" as part of their business practice. In addition, the Walton County Sheriff's Office conducted a similar raid on a business there.

Marketed and sold as incense, and closely resembling potpourri, spice, also known as K2, skunk, or fake marijuana, is among many "designer drugs" banned under Department of Defense directive 1010-3.4 and Air Force Instruction 44-120.

"Air Force leaders are sending a clear message about the health and career gambles associated with the drugs, as indicated by the service's zero tolerance policy regarding illegal substance use or possession," said Detective Howard Libbert, Chief of Intelligence and Investigations for the 96th Security Forces Squadron. "Using spice can lead to discharge from the military without benefits, which includes losing your Montgomery G.I. Bill."

According to Libbert, there are eight local establishments are off limits to Armed Forces military personnel for selling narcotic analogue such as "Spice" and "bath salts." Those establishments are: Harry Heady's, The Smokin' Tiki, In Sens, Blounts Emporium, Haight Ashbury's and Woodstock. Two, Showcase Smoke Shop and Wholesale DVD Etc., are located in Milton. Also affected are two Psychedelic Shack stores in Pensacola.

"Airman are ordering, buying and smoking spice every day because dealers, head shops, and the internet are telling them it produces the same effects as marijuana and that it is untraceable," Libbert said. "Despite popular belief, the Air Force can test for synthetic drugs, including spicemarijuana and synthetic cannabis. Many Airmen falsely believe they can only be convicted if they are caught carrying the drug. They are wrong. The military can and does test for these drugs, and a positive test can cause an Airman to lose a career."

In March 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an amendment that added 29 new chemical compounds to the list of prohibited, controlled substances and established new law, which made the formerly legal herbal incense or synthetic cannabinoid known as K2, or Spice, illegal to sell at local stores.