June 16, 2011
Nimitz News
June 16, 2011
Page 1
Vol. 36, No. 24
Spice test here; Nimitz cracks down Spice creator calls recreational users “foolish” Story by MC3 (SW) Matthew Patton Legal marijuana. The herbal incense. K2. Potpourri. Spice. The newest flavor of the month has hit the streets of Nimitz, and it’s leaving a bad aftertaste in its wake. The new drug has generated more than 4,000 calls to poison control centers around the U.S. since 2010 when it reportedly first hit North America, and has been linked to several suicides. It’s created such a stir throughout the country, that the man who created the chemical compound, John W. Huffman, came forth and publicly clarified his intentions and the purpose behind mimicking the effects of marijuana in an interview with ABC News. [Researchers] know the effects of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, Huffman told ABC News, because they have been thoroughly studied. “The scientific evidence is that it’s not a particularly dangerous drug,” said Huffman (of marijuana). And that’s as far as it was originally intended to go. According to Huffman, he never intended to launch a “legal marijuana” industry, even though he supports the legalization of the real thing. The class of compounds (JWH) that he invented have not been tested in the same way as marijuana, and pose many different risks. What we do know, he says, is “it doesn’t hit the brain in the same way as marijuana, and that’s why it’s dangerous.” Dangerous may be understating it, but dangerous hasn’t kept it out of the hands of service members, even here on Nimitz. Since coming to Bremerton last December, Nimitz has experienced a dramatic spike in drug cases and outbreaks. According to Nimitz leadership, Nimitz is fighting back with increased random inspections of the ship and barge, increased
Final DADT training The final Don’t Ask Don’t Tell training will be held 1 p.m. today in classroom 2B on the barge.
leadership presence and inspections in the barracks and random drug tests for spice. Various factors can lay claim to influencing Sailors to taking known illegal substances, common ones being the weather, depression and curiosity, among others. But in spite of any reasoning (or lack thereof), using this substance has more detrimental long-term effects than any reprieve the short-lived “high” it provides. And further than that, the compounds in this drug bring more to the table than the “high” it advertises.
Hallucinations, paranoia, extreme blood pressure elevation, agitation … these are just some of the documented side effects from ingesting it. Heaven forbid anyone take this stuff while on deployment. Klang. It’s the sound of a steel cell closing the door on a host of potentials. The “what could have beens” and the “if only’s” all take residence behind the metallic klang of that steel cell, having found a permanent home in the mind and body of the Sailor unfortunate enough to be locked in there with them. Two such Nimitz Sailors were contrite, honest and forthcoming about their experiences with spice, and how it completely changed their lives. Due to privacy and legal concerns, they will be referred to as the numbers “1” and “2,” respectively. Nimitz News: When did you enlist? 1: July 14, 2010 2: July 19, 2010 1: Same boot camp division, same “A” school… 2: Same state. NN: Been around each other that much? 1: Yeah, pretty much. NN: When did you guys arrive at see Spice, Page 2