The Changing Face of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Texas

This article describes the characteristics of individuals who used synthetic cannabinoids and the changes in the user population over time. Data sources include treatment admissions with a primary problem with synthetic cannabinoids reported to the Texas treatment dataset, synthetic cannabinoid exposures reported to the Texas Poison Center Network, and items identified in the National Forensic Laboratory Information System in 2009-2016. Statistically significant trends were identified for race/ethnicity, gender, age, education level, employment status, homelessness, criminal justice problems, use of other substances, lag time between first use and time to treatment, exposure site, chronicity, reason for exposure, and the most common types of cannabinoids. Comparisons were made between the years and the variables in the datasets. Findings suggest that the characteristics of synthetic cannabinoid users and the varieties of these drugs in Texas have changed over time. Data to link individual cases with the changing results of toxicological analysis are needed, as well as targeted prevention and treatment efforts for an aging population who may be at risk of homelessness and also have co-morbid substance use and psychiatric problems.