High on Spice

Gr 7 Up—Spice, also known as K-2, Hay, Twisted Spice, and several other street names, was labeled "not for human consumption" and legally sold in incense shops, convenience stores, and on the Internet until the FDA identified it as a Schedule 1 drug in January 2011. It was developed in the 1990s as a potential pain reliever for cancer patients, and quickly moved into the youth designer drug world. The film opens with three diverse teens who became addicted to this extremely dangerous marijuana substitute. The teens appear sincere in their ambivalence between wanting to fit in with friends who use Spice and suffering its noxious effects. Backlit scenes in oppressively smoky, dark rooms emphasize the point. According to law enforcement, medical, and narcotics experts who are interviewed, Spice is 500 to 700 times stronger than THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. It causes feelings of sickness, disorientation, lethargy, and paranoia, and its potential long-term effects are even more worrisome. Cancer as well as heart, brain, and lung damage are effects not yet entirely understood. While the on-screen professionals and teens urgently warn against using this drug, the message may not be forceful enough for young teens. The teacher's guide offers useful support activities and information, making this program beneficial in alerting adults and youth to the consequences of using this new designer drug.—Robin Levin, Fort Washakie School/Community Library, WY