The Synthetic Killer Called K2

 

When Daniel Perez jumped into the Concho River’s shallow waters Monday afternoon, he wasn’t quite himself. He and a group of friends had come from the YMCA to the area near the Bosque, where they decided to go for an afternoon swim. Less than 24 hours later those friends were giving statements to detectives of the San Angelo Police Department. Daniel Perez was missing.

According to their testimonies, Perez had become aggressive that afternoon and had at some point exhibited seizure like behavior. When the others were ready to leave he denied them, and due to the aggression he’d shown, they left without their friend. He was also said to have been on K2, or synthetic marijuana.

Perez’s body was found Thursday morning by a jogger, who was running the same stretch that SAPD, game wardens and SAPD Lake Division officers had spent hours exploring Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. His body will be transported to Lubbock for an autopsy, police said.

As of yet, concerned and shocked community members can only speculate as to what led to the death of an able-bodied 15-year-old boy in no more than three feet of water, and many are looking at the drug for an answer.

Paulette Schell, Prevention Director for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of the Concho Valley (ADACCV), says that the behavior described by Perez’s friends is consistent with what the council knows about the drug, an illegal form of synthetic marijuana.

“There can be no effect at all or there can be extreme paranoia, effects on the opposite spectrum, suicidal ideation, the trigger of addiction—it runs the gamut, and that’s the really scary part,” she said.

Through their prevention programs the council has heard different descriptions of the side effects triggered by K2 usage, and seizures, such as the one Perez is said to have, are one of the descriptors.

“That is definitely something we have heard time and time again from people who have used and have had the negative response,” Schell said. “One person can have seizures or convulsions or stiffening of the muscles and the next person has nothing at all happen to them. It’s highly unpredictable, so the seizure activity doesn’t surprise me.”

K2 first appeared on the market in the early 2000s, Schell said, and initially, it was a legal substitute for marijuana. The idea behind the product, she said, was to provide an alternative that didn’t show up on urine tests. Gradually, the federal government cracked down on the original formula, so the creators modified the formula in order to not be affected by the new laws.

“The DEA would ban the next generation and the creators would change the composition a little bit more,” she said. “So it’s kind of like a copy of a copy of a copy. What ended up happening is, what we have now as synthetic cannabis or K2 as a product is nothing like it was originally. And it has none of the same effects, generally, as marijuana does. So it’s a totally different thing now.”

In July of 2012, the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act was passed, making synthetic marijuana in all of its forms illegal in the United States. Despite the illegality, the drug can be purchased from a plethora of online sites and finds its way into the homes and pockets of adults and teens in San Angelo.

“It is pretty prevalent, especially when we were first hearing about it in the national news we were getting lots of reports from users that they were trying it,” Schell said. “The good news is that most of the time the reaction to the drug was negative. They didn’t like it, so they would tell each other. What we heard more often than not was ‘don’t mess with that. You’ll have bad trips. It’s not good.’”

Due to the variety of K2 manufacturers and the multiple composition changes that the active ingredient has undergone over the years, Schell says they really don’t know what is in it anymore because that each batch of it is different.

“There’s no nutritional information, there’s no ‘this is what’s actually in here’,” she said. “What it will say is ‘Not for human consumption’ or it will say something like ‘Plant food’. It’s not meant to be ingested, but that’s exactly why it was created.”

SAPD Public Information Officer Lt. Mike Hernandez added that the SAPD has "had several instances since it came out," but said that unless the suspect admits to usage of K2 or is carrying it on his person, it's difficult to pinpoint the drug. He also stated that the state police are constantly working to identify new brands and types of K2 so that officers know how to classify possession charges and their penalties. "It's hard," he said, alluding to how many types are available.

On the street, K2 is often referred to as “potpourri”, a name meant to disguise it’s actual use, Schell said. Sometimes, this is also printed on the package. The substance itself she described as “leafy” and that it resembles marijuana. The leafy substance is then sprayed with the active ingredient and as commonly considered a hallucinogen.

“What we’ve heard is …that the hallucinations that can occur are very scary,” she said. “That it is not a marijuana replacement, the effects are not the same, that it is more of a hallucinogen. You can’t predict how long you’re going to be high. There’s no accurate dosing of it. That’s the primary thing that we hear.”

Schell says it is possible to overdose on K2, and that it may elevate the heart rate or lead to seizures. Each individual body is going to react differently, she said, but the effects could be deadly.

“I would say we have had quite a bit of drop in the last couple of years [of usage], but we do still hear a lot of chatter about it,” she said. “We still talk about it in schools, we still have people that come to our treatment facilities with synthetics of the drug of choice, we still hear about the use of the drug on base, so we know it’s here. And obviously, with the death of Daniel, we know it’s deadly.”

Currently, the long-term effects of K2 on the brain are unknown, Schell said, but ADACCV does offer help for those battling addiction. Treatment is individualized and comprehensive, and each person is assessed before treatment begins.

“Our programs are comprehensive in nature and follow a wellness model to get that person back into society, back into their life, and to do that without having to use substances,” Schell said. “Addiction is a disease and we treat it that way.”

Those seeking help may contact ADACCV at 325-224-3481, or call the crisis hotline at 800-880-9641 24 hours a day.

“It is sad when we lose someone from our community, and even more tragic when it’s a young person,” Schell said in the wake of Perez’s death Thursday. “We need to do everything can as a community to keep our youth safe and to not pretend that drugs aren’t out there and make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.” 

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jdgt, Fri, 05/02/2014 - 08:35
I'm not saying this is why Daniel turned to K2... but consider this a factor - Look at our location (the desert of West Texas) and consider the absolute LACK of things there are for Daniel's age group to take part in. WHY are there not more things for these kids to do? They're too young for the club scene... they're too old for the skating rink and putt putt golf. Why is there nothing that these kids can do!? Wouldn't it be great if there was a youth center in town, with age limits (no one under 13, or over 18) etc. Why doesn't someone bring in a really high-tech go kart course... one like you'd find in Austin or Dallas or San Antonio. Our city is growing, and with it, so should the options for people. I applaud the efforts of The Rink and Mr Gatti's, to try to entertain.... but we're not a small town anymore. Step it up a notch, San Angelo - or I have a feeling we'll see a lot more tragedies such as this.
jdgt, Fri, 05/02/2014 - 09:41
R B - your mindset is also a contributing factor to the failure in today's society. We live in the bible belt, no doubt... and with that comes an abundance of "Christian" elders who love to say "well in MY day...." Unfortunately, YOUR day isn't the way of today. Times, and people, have evolved. BECAUSE our children are growing up in such a fast paced environment, filled with TV and electronics... it's going to take more than just a lake or a horseback ride in nature to steer them in the right direction. Yes, we can encourage them to take part in church activities - but not all children or families are as involved in the church as you may like. Having travelled, knowing what is out there and what San Angelo is capable of, I'm just saying that growth needs to happen. A bit of expansion. More opportunities. The city is trying, but we need to try harder. We've got the old folks fighting over lily pads and oak trees... Where is the middle-aged generation who can fight for opportunities for our children?

JD,

You posed the question, "Where is the middle-aged generation who can fight for opportunities for our children?"

The middle-aged generation has left San Angelo, is working multiple jobs and aspiring to leave San Angelo soon, or can't effectively be involved with the community due to class discrimination. This type of growth is unlikely in San Angelo. It's a bad business decision. Investors can put money in dozens of other options with lower risk and higher ROI.

It's all about money. For these opportunities to happen, San Angelo needs to make it an appealing business decision. The easiest way for this to happen would be financial incentives, which would require increased taxes, which would be shut down immediately by the old folks fighting over lily pads and oak trees.

jdgt, Fri, 05/02/2014 - 10:12
Zack - you're absolutely right, and it's a damned shame. Perhaps it's time that someone steps up? I have no idea where to start - but I've got three children that are up and coming in this city and I don't want to find them face down in this same river because they had nowhere else to go... I'd be willing to step up if I had people behind me!
You can't justify drug use with a lack of things to do. I grew up in a small town in Tennessee. The only thing within thirty minutes of us was a Wal-Mart. We had to drive one or two hours to get to a place to do something relatively "fun". Our mall was three hours away in Nashville. There were plenty of options other than drugs for this child. The mall has an arcade, Mr.Gatti's is fun even for me and I have two children. Kids Kingdom is HUGE, and I know older people can play there. I am pretty sure there is bowling, and I am also pretty sure older people can go to the skating rink. He had options, but now it is too late for him to consider those options. I pray his family doesn't hurt too much. The loss of a child, well, I know there is nothing in this world that could ever compare. I just know that life without drugs is a much better and more fulfilling life to live.
Unfortunately, things that could help keep the kids away from drugs have disappeared, along with the right to punish your children. I think that the lack of being able to spank your children because it may lead to unwanted social behaviors or it could damage their egos is a load of crap. I'm not saying to beat your children but there has to be limits and boundaries for the youth of this time. Also, San Angelo needs to step it up to keep people here after they graduate high school and college. It does absolutely no good to keep letting the younger generation move away because they have no real opportunities here.
It's a much different world today, Tiffany. The last time I was in San Angelo to visit I took a date to skate and play laser tag and it was a blast. Gatti's was on the table that night too... but those things just aren't "cool" for kids. Because of the huge societal changes it's activities that make youth feel more independent and mature, give instant gratification, and are forbidden (in one way or another) that are pursued. Hanging out with friends around a campfire might be fun for some kids, but simple feats are unexciting for most. The skating rink is typically filled with children that aren't even teenagers yet, which does nothing to promote the venue towards high school kids who already see the place as childish.
jdgt, Fri, 05/02/2014 - 10:44
I recently inquired, with my 6th grade daughter's principal, why there were no school dances... or FUN events at the school. Her response? "Because the kids don't come." THAT is a direct failure on the part of the school, and of the PTA, among others. Why are we not doing more for these children? My daughter came from a DoD school in Europe where opportunities were endless. School carnivals, Winter Formals, etc. She was so excited to possibly attend her first winter formal this year, only to find out there wasn't one. No opportunity to dress up fancy... All because the people we trust to look out for them, teach them, watch over them on a daily basis can't think outside the box and come up with a way to BRING THE CHILDREN IN! The mindset in these comments is beyond disappointing. A 15 yr old kid at Kid's Kingdom? You have to appeal to that demographic. You have to look at who these kids are currently running with, and what they're currently doing for fun - and find a way to counter the behavior and activity that is CURRENTLY going on. Kid's Kingdom is not going to appeal to a group of kids who are invincible. And Molly, gone is the day when you could beat your kids into submission. I have a highly defiant 6 yr old daughter, and spanking just absolutely does NOT work with her. I've found that when I've reached the point of spanking her - it's out of anger... not discipline. If we let nature take it's course with this city - the water will dry up... the Bible Belters will die off, and the city will consist of oilfield people living in 5th wheels during their rotations... Anyone with a vested interest in preserving what could be SUCH a wonderful city to live in, should clearly step up.
I stated, "Last time I was in San Angelo to visit..." I guess I should clarify. I grew up in San Angelo, went to Christoval ISD, and am now finishing up my marketing degree at Texas Tech. This is the perspective I have.
jdgt, Fri, 05/02/2014 - 10:59
I grew up in Sonora, TX. I graduated in the late 90's. We usually had to drive all the way here to go to the mall or to the movies. Around town in Sonora, all we had was "driving around", grabbing a drink from Sonic. On the weekends, we'd find some secluded location, park all our cars, and drink into the early morning hours. Guess who did turn to drugs at the end because of the lack of things to do... THIS PERSON RIGHT HERE!! (fortunately, it was a short lived phase.) After high school, I joined the military and travelled the world... I had the fortunate opportunity to experience many cultures... and have found that the absolute worst culture is the one I'm raising my children in, here in San Angelo. How do we embrace this needed change?
There has to be an answer somewhere. I'm what all of you would call the "older" generation, (66) but I have a 16 yr. old son attending Central High School. Yes we are Christians and attend church, but there are not activities for our youth all the time. He has various gaming systems in his room but he doesn't play them all the time. What does he do with his time, you ask? He works out in his dad's work shop making things, wooden swords, etc. He goes around with his Go-Pro taking pictures of our dogs playing in the back yard. He doesn't do drugs, he doesn't drink, but he does eat and eat a lot. He's not a perfect child but we chose him. You see he was our grandson and neither parent wanted him after they divorced. He had been beaten, punished beyond belief, told he was stupid, and various other comments. We took him, and LOVED him. We stay involved in his life, school (including grades) friends, places he goes and girls he dates. We expect his teachers to give him an education not raise him. Did you know you can keep up with their grades daily online? You can and we do. Being our age we have friends all over this town and he knows it. He also knows they are all wanting the best for him and he doesn't know who may see him at any time. I took the liberty to look up some places kids can go to here in town. My thoughts and prayers to this family who lost their precious child, and yes every child is precious because they are a gift from God. RECREATION DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION 702 S. CHADBOURNE 657-4450 SOUTHSIDE RECREATION CENTER 2750 BEN FICKLIN 657-4489 NORTHSIDE RECREATION CENTER 2722 N. MAGDALEN 657-4487 CARL RAY JOHNSON RECREATION CENTER EDDY NELSON 1103 N. FARR SAN ANGELO. TX 76903 657-4483 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SAN ANGELO Ed Lopez PO BOX 107 SAN ANGELO. TX 76902 655-8343 CALL MAIN OFC. FOR LOCATION LAST TUES. OF MONTH, 12:00 P.M. www.bgcasa.net YMCA 353 S RANDOLPH SAN ANGELO, TX 76903 325-655-9106 YMCA
jdgt, Fri, 05/02/2014 - 12:21
Kudos, Elizabeth for saving your grandson and being involved in his life. Not every child is so fortunate. The recreation centers and YMCA are wonderful suggestions, however... what do they offer for these "in between" teens, other than just a place to gather? (and often times, at a price?) Daniel and his friends were down near the river, more than likely because it's a free place to gather. For lack of a better explanation - look at the stuff we did as kids that was fun because it was wrong... We prank called people. Some would smoke cigarettes... (behind the high school, during lunch!) These were petty things that we can look back on and laugh about. Unfortunately - as Zack said, these are different times... It still takes a village to raise a child - which is why we trust the educators to help in this department. I send my daughter to school and they spend 7 hours a day with her (while I'm at work, earning my ability to support our family.) YES - I would greatly appreciate more effort on the behalf of those who raise my child during the day, to put together events that I know she would attend. The problem with a LOT of entities these days.... is the "it's not my job" syndrome. Well - you're all wrong... it is on ALL of us to bring our children up... and we've got to stop pointing fingers, and start working together for the common good.
Yes I agree both with JB & & Zack. We do live in different times. The article stated that Daniel and his friends had just left the YMCA. I'm not real sure how many kids would attend functions at their schools. The study work load placed on our students is incredible. I know WE have to do something. There are still lots of questions to be answered about this horrible accident. Everything is going to have some kind of price attached to it. A high-tech go kart course would be loads of fun but expensive to attend. The reality is we all must do what we believe is the right thing to do for our individual child and what will keep them on the right path. My husband and I have a game plan, which includes lots of prayer and a fantastic support system from two of our older children, who also try to guide and help him along the way, but we don't depend on the whole town to raise him because I don't like some of their influences. We believe it's the family's responsibility.
I feel like I may owe you an apology. I didn't mean to come down on you. I do applaud you for breaking the cycle. I understand the scary feeling of raising a child up in this society. Drugs run ramped these days. You are right we all have to work together. We need to rid our city of these drugs. I don't have the answer on how, but one person can't do it alone.
Drug and crime issues with teenagers isn't for a lack of healthier alternatives, there's a cultural factor involved. Kids today are immersed in lifestyles of apathy and stagnation with little to no curiosity for higher interests. The sad reality is, most people are just fine with raising intellectually bankrupt children with absolutely no sense of personal responsibility. The end result is a society rife with extremely ignorant, counterproductive people -- who themselves pass down unhealthy habits and low standards to their own children. Are we satisfied with merely distracting kids from their lowlife peers and their self destructive lifestyles with arcades and other virtual daycare facilities? Is that the best we can do -- drop off the kids at Gatti's or "rec centers"? What ever happened to musical instruction, learning a foreign language, art classes or the countless other enriching activities which actually teach something of value, rather than the ability to simply congregate with idle morons? Who do your kids look up to? Are their role models successful and productive human beings or social parasites who speak in broken English, sport facial tattoos and belt their pants around their thighs? What kind of character is built on a steady diet of reality TV and social media? Your parenting (or lack thereof) has lasting ramifications which ripple into the fabric of society. You may be perfectly fine with your socially crippled 20-something year old who lives on the sofa and cannot even muster up the ability to make eye contact while speaking to someone, but at some point the rest of us have to deal with them -- whether it's something as simple as taking my order or having to prevent them from stealing my lawn mower. Life has always been filled with dangerous substances and hazardous behavior, but for some reason or another we're turning out an abundance of young people who read the phrase "not for human consumption" and then consume the product in question within minutes. Some see tragedy in people who willingly ingest harmful substances, while I tend to see the tragedy in the fact that I have to live among them.
Slate, Sun, 05/04/2014 - 21:21
Instead of blaming it on all kinds of things, why don't we just be real about it? The kid was an idiot, and now he is dead. Such is life, that's how natural selection works.
I'd tend to agree with your post, however the "to-the-point" method you used is sometimes misconstrued. In my previous post on this matter, the crux of my argument was that we're (collectively) raising "idiots". In a society with very dire, very painful and very REAL consequences you don't see half of the crime we have here in the U.S.. Here, there are no TRUE deterrents to discourage criminal activity and if every other miscreant gets away with a slap on the wrist, where is the incentive to better one's self? In this country, if someone resolves to do very little, to learn absolutely nothing -- what's the worst that could happen to them? They apply for entitlements and allow the rest of the community to care for them like pets? If one decides to take on a criminal lifestyle, what's the worst case scenerio they face? Penitentiary accommodations like free health/dental care, meals, recreation, legal services and an abbreviated version of the same scumbag lifestyle they lived on the outside? We live in a culture which fawns over "idiots", we do everything in our power to sustain their existence and secure their place in our communities. They can be arrested -- so long as the officers use "reasonable force". They can be sentenced to death -- so long as we make their exit as painless as possible. If by chance they take themselves out, people are mourning them as if their passing had any negative bearing on the civilized and productive world. There are countless talented, intelligent young people who are doing some pretty amazing things out there. Unfortunately a thriving genius could only dream of becoming the media darling that a fallen delinquent rises to effortlessly.
I would argue that your "good riddance" attitude is a bigger problem than the fact that some kids make bad decisions that sometimes cost lives. Is this how natural selection works, Joe? Because there are plenty of "idiots" out there that reproduce and live to ripe old ages; the type known to parasitize society to the detriment of those who are more productive members of it. Natural selection doesn't apply to humans the same way it does to all other living things because of our affinity to industrialize, capitalize, and globalize. But your misinformed statement about natural selection requires a rant all on its own. What troubles me is that a forum such as this gives everyone with an opinion the ability to impose their opinions on others, and that the majority of these people are more concerned with self-gratification than having thoughtful and meaningful discussions about social problems and offering possible solutions. The truth is, concerning the issue with this young boy who died too young, that it's not uncommon for children to make stupid decisions. Sometimes they do and get injured, or spend a night in jail with a smack on the wrist, or have a short jail sentence, or are issued community service or probation. Sometimes kids who are still too young to fully understand the consequences of their actions drink and drive, then get into wrecks and, if they are lucky enough, avoid killing others or themselves in the process, but have to face other forms of punishment. Sometimes those kids whose stupid mistakes don't take their lives or the lives of others get a wake-up call, or reach a state of maturity that allows them to truly see their past mistakes for being just that, and even turn out to be productive members of society. It's not uncommon at all. The point is this: firstly, because a young boy died in something "drug" related doesn't necessarily make him an idiot. Kids are notorious for making stupid decisions at times; it really isn't fair to judge someone for making one stupid mistake. Do any of you with such strong opinions about this boy or his parents that you are so adamant in making harsh public statements about actually know these people? While we're making inferences without evidence to formulate them, I would go ahead and assume that it's the most "Christian" among you who make comments chastising a kid after dying tragically or contending that it's all his parents' fault for allowing it to happen. I don't know them either, but I would imagine that his parents are heartbroken and would be devastated to see how little some people in the community care. Why take this attitude as opposed to a compassionate and supportive one? Because it didn't happen to you? What if it was your kid who this happened to (assuming that your kids have ever made a stupid, thoughtless mistake--I know it's a long shot to assume such a thing), and all you found when reading comments from fellow San Angeloans were to the tune of "the kid was an idiot, and now he's dead" and "some see tragedy in people who willingly ingest harmful substances, while I tend to see the tragedy in the fact that I have to live among them"? What if you knew your child was intelligent but made a mistake that just happened to cost his/her life? "Lares Deces," your posts come off as narcissistic and arrogant. Maybe you have never had the curiosity or peer pressure that many people have to experiment with drugs. Maybe you had the perfect upbringing in a pristine family in a good neighborhood where it was easy to avoid such things. Not everyone grows up that way. Hell, maybe I'm wrong and you did grow up in a neighborhood where there was a drug problem, and you were one of the saints who was just too strong-willed to succumb to it. But not everyone is you. Some kids have little other influence besides bad ones. Some grow up in bad neighborhoods with bad school systems and a bad overall society, and find that selling crack is what their peers do to become financially "successful." Not everyone's life is like yours, and plenty of people wish they could have grown up with privileges that would have made it easier to be respected members of a community. But it is nearly impossible for some to become that.
jdgt, Mon, 05/05/2014 - 13:13
None of us is right... if we were, our ideas and opinions and advice and suggestions would have been taken into account years ago and this tragedy wouldn't have happened this way. However, none of us is wrong, either. Even has heartless and cruel as Joseph's rant was - it's true. The kid made an ignorant choice and now he's dead. A few days ago, I was so ready to tackle this issue of direction for our children. I was looking up city council meeting times and coming up with ideas, etc... I tried to reach out via this venue to see if anyone wanted to back me on approaching the city with ideas on how to help these kids. OUR children! However, no one answered back. How dare any of us continue to chime in with personal opinion, without offering a possible solution. Not just an idea.... but a plan. The best thing any of us can do is not let Daniel die in vain.
I cited several societal problems which contribute to juvenile delinquency: lax parenting, little to no consequences for poor choices, the emulation and glorification of criminal lifestyles -- these problems play into the influences of wayward kids as well as substance abuse. There are no simple solutions to these issues, as there is more red tape to prove you're worthy of store credit than becoming a parent. We're left with a surplus of neglected youth whose parents have dropped the ball (for one reason or another) and then, surprise -- it's up to the rest of the community to give a damn. It begins with parents, due to the fact that THEY initially present their product (children) to the world who mirror their values. These values are the determining factors in how these children relate to society and the dilemmas they'll eventually face among it. When parenting fails, the issues crossover into the community. If you've turned out a young adult with no respect for authority or concept of "right" and "wrong", this person ultimately becomes EVERYONE'S problem. You cited "mistakes". Mistakes (IMO) are things like knocking over a glass of water or overheating leftovers -- NOT intentionally consuming harmful substances or partaking in criminal activity. Unless the offending party is mentally deficient or under duress, I'm really not interested in the common pity parties which enable reoffenders or lament the loss of self destructive people. Coddling criminals and people with no regard for others may be the popular, bleeding heart stance to take, but does so at the expense of the community. Seeing as how I AM part of the community, allowing "mistakes" to run rampant and crap up my living space isn't in my best interest. The hypothetical "what if it were your kid" can sometimes get people to flip-flop around their argument, however I'd never assume that someone should be immune from consequences or judgement simply because they had my last name. The concluding paragraph in your post is probably most concerning, as you've equated one's abstinence from drug use and criminal activity with being a "saint" or having a "perfect upbringing" -- and selling crack, simply because it's the thing to do? Knowing right from wrong has nothing to do with luck or what neighborhood you come from. Drugs abuse and criminal activity isn't some inevitable happenstance like bad weather. One has to actively pursue these lifestyles. Possible solutions? Holding people accountable for their actions is a great start. No more of this "too young, too poor, too impressionable" to know better. We all KNOW that ingesting harmful substances and engaging in unlawful activity is wrong and we should hold ourselves to higher standards than those of a 3 month old puppy. Neglectful parents should have their children permanently removed, habitual/dangerous criminals should be locked away indefinitely. Set clear standards, establish guidelines and enact painful consequences. This IS what works because it IS proactive rather than reactionary.

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