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Law enforcement faces battle against new synthetic drug

The drug is called "Smiles" and it's aimed at teenagers and college-aged students.
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A new drug in Indiana has doctors and parents on high alert.

The drug is called "Smiles" and it's aimed at teenagers and college-aged students. The clinical name of the new synthetic drug is "2CI," a powerful psychedelic drug manufactured, according to James Mowry of the Indiana Poison Control Center, for one reason.

"They are trying to go for that safe high and there is probably no such thing has a safe high," Mowry said.

Mowry says the effects of the drug have him on edge. Smiles has been know to cause seizures, kidney failure and, in a few cases, raised blood pressure and body temperatures to fatal levels.

"They do something that is called 'uncoupling.' Basically, their muscles get to the point they can not contract, so they sort of get rigid and then your temperature goes up really high and if you don't treat them really aggressively, those people usually end up dying," said Mowry.

It is being sold as an alternative psychedelic drug. It is most commonly found in pill form, but there are reports of users injecting it. The psychedelic effects are also reported as more powerful than its natural occurring counterparts, like mescaline and peyote, with the effects lasting a few hours or days.

Technically, the drug is illegal in Indiana. Investigators say 'Smiles' is a new drug, targeted at people who used to buy K2 - spice and bath salts - which became illegal just a few months ago. What is setting off alarms is how quick the drug found its way into Indiana.

"There is always something new once we figure out a way to get rid of one drug, or substance of abuse somebody will find another substance of abuse," said Mowry.

But there is some good news when it comes to new drugs. Indiana is usually one of the last states hit, giving the poison control people an opportunity to learn from others.

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