Dangerous Görke: Police warn of new drug risk in the Emsland!

The police in the Emsland urgently warns of a synthetic drug that is known in the region under the name "Görke" and in other areas as "baller liquid". This drug is particularly popular with young people and is often consumed via e-cigarettes or vapes. The liquid looks similar to conventional e-cigarette fluids, but has a dangerous composition that contains stimulating and hallucinogenic substances. These can lead to severe physical and psychological damage.

like Brisant reports, "Baller-Liquid" is synthetic cannabis and a further development of the already banned drug spice. The composition of this drug varies, which makes the strength unpredictable and the consumers report extreme effects, including strong fear and panic states after consumption. Another worrying feature is that "Baller-Liquid" is not detectable with conventional drug tests. In addition, it is often offered with pleasant scents such as strawberries or other fruit scents, which makes it particularly seductive for young people.

Risks and developments of synthetic drugs

The problem of synthetic cannabinoids is not new, as is explained The Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung . These substances have been distributed on the European drug market since around 2004. Originally marketed as a legal cannabis alternative, synthetic cannabinoids have proven to be extremely dangerous. An important regulatory law, the new psychoactive substance law (NPSG), came into force in 2016 to regulate the handling of these new substances. Nevertheless, underground chemists constantly synthesize new psychoactive substances that act on cannabinoid receptors and are often not initially illegal.

The Emsland police warn that synthetic cannabinoids are increasingly appearing in e-liquids and vapes that are sold online. The figures that document at least 98 deaths in connection with synthetic cannabinoids in Munich between 2014 and 2020 are worrying. In over 50 % of these cases, the synthetic cannabinoids had been identified as the cause, while in 26 % cases of other substances. Forensic toxicologists found up to 41 different substances in the rehearsals of the deceased.

The current development shows that over 200 synthetic cannabinoids have been demonstrated in Europe, many of them are whole agonists of cannabinoid receptors, which leads to more intensive effects. The undesirable side effects range from hallucinations and panic attacks to cardiovascular problems such as rapid heartbeat and strokes. Cases of lung damage as well as liver and kidney failure are also known. In addition, regular consumption can lead to dependency, with different withdrawal symptoms that range from headache to nausea.