Emily Bauer, from Cypress in Texas, was left severely disabled after smoking a product that she purchased from a local petrol station.
Ms Bauer purchased the substance last December with friends, but around 15 minutes after smoking it, told her boyfriend she had a migraine and needed to lie down.
She subsequently suffered a series of strokes that left her in a psychotic state; urinating on herself, running into walls and suffering violent hallucinations.
The police were called to help restrain her into an ambulance, and she was taken to Northwest Cypress Hospital, where she bit guardrails and attempted to bite medical staff, her sister told CNN.
"We thought once she comes down off the drug, we'd take her home and show her the dangers of this drug," her older sister, Blake, said.
"We didn't think it was as big of a deal until 24 hours later she was still violent and hurting herself. We realized you're not supposed to stay high this long."
Ms Bauer was put into a medically induced coma as doctors carried out tests on her brain, which revealed the strokes had caused severe vasculitis - a contraction of blood vessels that restricts blood and oxygen reaching the brain.
Ms Bauer's stepfather Tommy Bryant told CNN: "In four days' time, we went from thinking everything is going to be OK and we'll put her in drug rehabilitation, to now you don't know if she's going to make it".
The teenager showed initial signs of improvement, but pressure on her brain grew to dangerous levels and she required a hole drilled in her skull to relieve the burden.
Around 70 per cent of Ms Bauer's brain was considered 'dead', and when doctors told her parents she would not be able to recognise her family and would never be able to use her arms or legs again, they opted to take out her breathing tubes and stop all nourishment.
Ms Bauer continued to fight however, and her condition has steadily improved. She even managed to tell her mother she loved her at one point during the early stages of her recovery.
Although she knows where she is and recognises the voices of family members, Ms Bauer is still considered highly confused.
Although she still suffers paralysis, she has recently started moving her arms and legs and even started eating solid food in the last fortnight.
Synthetic marijuana is usually an herbal mixture doused in chemicals and marketed as Spice or K2, although there is no indication that Ms Bauer consumed either of these particular brands.
To get around legal complications, synthetic marijuana is often labelled as potpourri or incense. When a particularly variety is banned, manufacturers simply change the chemical compound, allowing it to return to the shelves.
Ms Bauer's family have set up a non-profit organisation to make teenagers and their relatives aware of the dangers of synthetic drugs.
For more information about Synthetic Awareness For Emily, visit www.facebook.com/safe4emily.
Reader Comments
Tragic & Sad that this should happen to anyone, let alone a beautiful young girl. The active ingredient was likely one of a type of cannabinoid known as JWH-018. JWH-018 & four other cannabinoid have since March 1, 2011 been outlawed, but other Cannabinoid analogues or metabolites are substituted, thereby skirting the law. Here is the Wiki:
"JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) or AM-678[1] is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family that acts as a full agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with some selectivity for CB2. It produces effects in animals similar to those of THC, a cannabinoid naturally present in cannabis, leading to its use in synthetic cannabis products such as "legal cannabis herbal incense blends" which in some countries are sold legally as "incense", labeled "not for human consumption."
"John W. Huffman, an organic chemist at Clemson University, synthesized analogues and metabolites of ฮ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal active component of cannabis. JWH-018 is one of these analogues, with studies showing an affinity for the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor five times greater than that of THC. Cannabinoid receptors are found in mammalian brain and spleen tissue; however, the structural details of the active sites are currently unknown."
This is not marijuana. This stuff is five times more addictive & can have the opposite effect of marijuana. More from Wiki:
"Compared to THC, which is a partial agonist at CB1 receptors, JWH-018 (and many of its analogues) are full agonists. THC has been shown to inhibit GABA receptor neurotransmission in the brain via several pathways.[18][19] JWH-018 may cause intense anxiety, agitation, and, in rare cases (generally with non-regular JWH users), has been assumed to have been the cause of seizures and convulsions by inhibiting GABA neurotransmission more effectively than THC. Cannabinoid receptor full agonists may present serious dangers to the user when used to excess.[20]"
"Various physical and psychological adverse effects have been reported from JWH-018 use. One study reported psychotic relapses and anxiety symptoms in well-treated patients with mental illness following JWH-018 inhalation.[21] Due to concerns about the potential of JWH-018 and other synthetic cannabinoids to cause psychosis in vulnerable individuals, it has been recommended that people with risk factors for psychotic illnesses (like a past or family history of psychosis) not use these substances.[22] Additionally, as a dissociative drug, JWH-018 has the ability to cause dissociation and temporary substance-induced psychosis in otherwise healthy individuals."
"Additionally, as a dissociative drug, JWH-018 has the ability to cause dissociation and temporary substance induced psychosis in otherwise healthy individuals" Why does this not surprise me. Gee, I wonder who's behind this?
Natural marijuana does not act as a full agonist. From Wiki, "Compared to THC, which is a partial agonist at CB1 receptors, JWH-018 (and many of its analogues) are full agonists..."
This article seems skewed to implicate natural marijuana as a dangerous drug. Thereby persuading lawmakers to make marijuana completely illegal in all states... again, and thereby taking away not only for some, a quality of life issue, but for others the ability to live by retaining the food they eat without vomiting it all back up. Other patient benefits for natural marijuana include pain management, anxiety, depression, & food or stomach disorders.
Other issues are obviously the psychopathic nature of corporate entities & also the psychopathic entities that run them, but lets not forget the ponerization of society as well, that allow this & other deadly drugs to be distributed intentionally. All the while those same of the insane try to make illegal any drug or natural vitamin, or beneficial plant illegal.
It makes me wonder if these companies producing this stuff are maybe part of something powerful backing them. They are able to skirt laws & are changing chemicals frequently. It almost sounds like a major backer may be using these companies to test chemicals on society. It also makes me wonder about the episodes of people biting others, & the talk of & some actual serious preparation, for some, of an actual zombie apocalypse. How insane is this?
Calling that shite synthetic marijuana is like calling Sterno synthetic vodka.
Agreed
why? Why is marijuana not legal? People will huff on propane to get high. If marijuana was legal we wouldn't have " what we have here today", as this regrettable story confirms.
Have a nice day.