Use of spice climbs in Northern Utah. OGDEN — With an increase in the use of spice, an incense smoked to get a high much like marijuana, government agencies are looking at ways to curb the use of the currently-legal drug in the Top of Utah. “There is a definite presence,” said Brock Alder, director of the substance abuse division of Bear River Health Department. “It's a real problem.” Spice, which is also known as Black Mamba, Bliss, or Bambay Blue, contains mostly damiana, a shrub with small, yellow flowers that grows in dry, rocky climates generally found in Mexico, California and Texas. The herb acts on the nervous system as an antidepressant to soothe anxiety, nervousness and mild depression. It has a reputation as a relaxant and an aphrodisiac. It is currently sold in tobacco shops and convenience stores as an incense, and is labeled that it is not meant for human consumption. However, many users buy the incense and smoke it, giving them a marijuana-like, but legal, high. While the drug may be bought and possessed legally, that doesn't mean users won't have to face consequences. Alder said that the health department recently began sending urine drug tests to a lab in California so they could be tested for damiana. He said they have done the testing for less than a month, but they already have had several tests come back positive for the drug. “Our policy here is, they can't use any mood or mind-altering substances, even alcohol,” he said. “We just want them completely clean so we know we have a clean brain (to work with during treatment.)” Capt. Klint Anderson, of the Weber County Sheriff's Office, said officers have seen an increase in people driving while under the influence of spice. “We're starting to see arrests for DUI impairment, and the drug of choice is spice,” he said. “It can be legally sold and possessed, apparently. That's where the problem comes in.” The problem is while police can observe someone driving erratically, and can witness them fail a field sobriety test, there is no way law enforcement can check their body fluids for traces of the drug, like they can with alcohol or illegal drugs. “If we have impaired drivers, we have no way to detect blood levels,” Anderson said. “It makes it that much more difficult to prosecute.” But that doesn't mean the officer won't cite the driver. “We still charge them with DUI,” Anderson said. “It just becomes more difficult (to prove in court.)” Anderson said the police department doesn't have access to any urine test like the Bear River Health Department does, but said they would like to be able to. “We'd like to,” he said about the possibility of a urine test. “We see it as a public safety risk.” Alder said that while the product is legal, little is known about the effect of the drug. Some clients have spoken of medical issues resulting from the spice, such as seizure-like symptoms or heart palpitations, but nothing has been documented yet. “Anything that is going to alter your mind is dangerous,” he said. “Too many people, when someone hands them something and says 'Try it,' they do. They need to find out what they're trying. They need to understand it's dangerous.” I agree, people shouldn't drive under the influence of anything but if this herb in fact does help people as an antidepressant, soothes anxiety, nervousness, mild depression as well as a relaxant and an aphrodisiac shouldn't it be looked at as a possible solution? However, I am not so sure that Utah is in need of an aphrodisiac! added by: JuliusBC
