Woman recovering from "spice" addiction shares warning

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) - A woman in Huntington is speaking out after being addicted to what she's calling a legal substance similar to spice, a synthetic marijuana.  Leaders there have called this form of substance abuse a growing problem.  But it’s all legal.

It all began when Kayla Martin said a friend introduced her to what she thought was marijuana.  That quickly turned into an addiction and landed her into a jail cell.  Now she's left warning others against substances she's calling dangerous.

Lawmakers have already banned synthetic drugs like K2 and spice.  But Martin, 21, said she recently bought similar substances legally.

“If you go in there and say the word ‘spice,’ they'll tell you we don't have that and that's illegal.  You have to know the names of it,” Martin said.  “They [the business owners] know what it’s for.  And they know exactly what people do with it.”

After smoking it with friends, Martin said she became addicted.  She explained her symptoms to be out of control.  She says she would go into rages, black out, and even attempted suicide.

The 21-year-old was taken to jail after she had the cops called on her.

“He [the officer] said that I wiped lipstick on him and I don't recall ever doing that,” Martin said.  “But that's what I'm charged with, battery on an officer as an aftermath of spice.  And I'm the type that would never lay my hands on anybody.  It's just not my style.”

In February, Huntington County Sheriff Terry Stoffel showed NewsChannel 15 a handful of substances he said were being misused.   At the time, Stoffel said Martin’s actions in jail were like a caged animal.

Thursday, leaders with an anti-drug task force in Huntington confirmed that they've seen a large increase in teenagers abusing similar types of substances.

Martin said she's still dealing with the aftermath of being on “spice.”

“It led to me doing it every day.  And even now I promised myself I won't do it.  But is it tempting?  It's very tempting to go get something that you can get legally,” Martin said.  “They say it's the equivalent of meth and I would say that's pretty much right.”

Now, Martin is using her experience as an example of what not to do.  She’s hoping to make a difference in what she calls a community with a growing problem.

“Something needs to change in the community.  That's my strong belief,” Martin said.  “It's got to start somewhere.”

On February 21, NewsChannel 15 reported on how the Huntington County Sheriff's Department is working to fight against what they're calling a synthetic drug problem.  Sheriff Terry Stoffel says one of businesses selling those substances is Bohemian Groove.

After receiving a letter from the company that produces V-8, one of the products sold at Bohemian Groove, NewsChannel 15 wanted to let you know they say their substances are aromatherapy products and are not for human consumption.  In fact, the packaging of V-8 states that the proper uses for the product are to burn with sage, boil in oil, and put holes in pack and hang.

NewsChannel 15 also wanted to explain, once again, as far as we know V-8 is not an illegal substance and that Bohemian Groove is doing nothing illegal.

Still Thursday, the Huntington County Sheriff confirmed, it is selling substances people have been misusing.  Martin said it's the same location where she bought her substances.

State lawmakers are working to ban the substances, which they're labeling look-alike drugs.