A statewide plan to combat synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K-2, has been established. The multi-agency agenda includes wide-ranging prevention, education, treatment, and community engagement efforts, building upon the state’s commitment to add dozens of synthetic cannabinoids to the state’s controlled substances list.
These new initiatives will help remove these substances from circulation, raise awareness on the dangers of K-2, and provide additional guidance to healthcare providers on effective treatment and recovery services, officials said.
“These extremely dangerous and deadly substances are wreaking havoc in communities across the state, and we are stepping up efforts to ensure these drugs remain off the streets and out of our correctional facilities,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “With these new initiatives we can further educate the public on the dangers of these drugs while also continuing to ensure that those who bring this scourge into our communities will be held fully accountable.”
“We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all New Yorkers against dangerous substances,” said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, co-chair of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force. “This comprehensive agenda to combat synthetic cannabinoids, or K-2, will support wide-ranging services including education, prevention, and treatment. We want to raise awareness about the dangers of K-2 and other substances, and make sure individuals and families have the resources they need for treatment and recovery.”
The state is launching K-2 Listening Forums in communities across the state that have been impacted by synthetic cannabinoid abuse. In order to receive feedback from local stakeholders, these forums will also include synthetic cannabinoid experts, community based organizations, family representatives, people in recovery, and local government and law enforcement officials.
As part of this initiative, the state is launching a targeted public awareness and education campaign focused on educating vulnerable populations about the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids. This campaign includes an electronic toolkit that provides a comprehensive suite of educational resources to inform the public about the dangers of synthetic cannabinoids, as well as paid media advertising targeted to at-risk locations throughout the state.
This initiative will involve multiple state agencies utilizing a comprehensive strategy to reach vulnerable populations and the professionals who serve them, as well as raise awareness within educational communities to reach high school and college level professionals, students, parents, and guardians.
The Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services have issued joint guidance to healthcare providers, hospitals, off-campus emergency departments, substance use disorder and mental health agencies, and local health departments to provide information on the risk indicators of synthetic cannabinoid intoxication and addiction, and offer guidance for diagnosis and treatment.
In addition, the state will launch a targeted initiative to ensure adequate linkage between substance use disorder treatment facilities and harm reduction agencies in areas of the State that have been most heavily impacted by synthetic cannabinoids.
Officials said K-2 is one of the most common forms of contraband introduced into the prison system due to the fact that it is easily concealable to avoid detection. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has taken aggressive action to enhance their security screening procedures to prevent the introduction of contraband into its facilities.
As part of this protocol, DOCCS will refer cases to the Narcotics Intelligence Unit at the New York State Intelligence Center to both increase the amount of drug intelligence available to State Police Investigators and enhance the State’s capability to pursue outside investigations to identify and disrupt the sources of K-2 production and distribution.
Cuomo first banned synthetic cannabinoids in 2012 through aggressive emergency regulations empowering the health commissioner to close down stores where the drugs were sold because of the imminent threat they posed to public health. In 2015, the governor added two additional classes of compounds to the banned substances list, which were unanimously approved by the Public Health and Health Planning Council.
In July 2016, New York stepped up statewide enforcement efforts to ensure that businesses fully comply with all applicable laws, including the 2012 emergency regulations banning the manufacture, sale, and distribution of synthetic cannabinoids.
