1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
FAQ: K2, Spice Gold, and Herbal 'Incense' Legal Herbal Products Laced with Designer Drugs: Not Your Father's Marijuana By Daniel J. DeNoon
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
5-Mar-10
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Internal searches of WebMD showed a sudden spike in people lookng for information for "K2." It didn't take long to find out that K2 was one of the "legal highs" offered for sale at head shops and internet sites. A check with NIDA's chemistry chief confirmed that the drug is one of several synthetic cannabinoids. So are these drugs merely marijuana in disguise? As it turned out, only recently had anyone determined exactly which compounds were in the drugs — a German toxicologist who finally managed to tease out the active substance. In an astonishing interview, this scientist described to DeNoon his own experience testing the drug on himself. But how bad could a mere cannabis-drug be? To find out, DeNoon tracked down the chemist who created most of these compounds in his lab — as reagents. Never intended for human consumption, they were based on carcinogenic compounds. And they were vastly more potent than marijuana. Formated as an FAQ, the story nevertheless carries a powerful narrative line. The article avoids ain't-it-awful moralizing while delivering a powerful safety message to potential users of these substances, which at the time of writing remained easily available. It was among the most-read WebMD articles of 2010.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Documents (research articles) were obtained via National Library of Medicine searches and other internet searches. Authors of these articles were identified and interviewed by telephone. No FOI requests were filed.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Interviewees included: John W. Huffman, PhD, research professor, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. Huffman created most of the synthetic cannabinioids used in legal-high products. Marilyn Huestis, PhD, chief, chemistry and drug metabolism, National Institute for Drug Abuse, Bethesda, Md. Huestis provided an overview of why NIDA was concerned. Volker Auwarter, ScD, research toxicologist, Freiburg University Hospital, Germany. Auwarter was the first to identify the precise cannabinoids used in the "herbal" drugs and offered a first-person account of what it's like to take them.
6. Results (if any).
Increased awareness that these drugs are far more dangerous than marijuana has led to new laws in a number of states. While WebMD certainly contributed to this awareness, it would be quite a leap to say that the action was a direct result of the story.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Seemingly drug research abstracts can lead to surprisingly vivid interviews when the study authors are tracked down and interviewed. Stories about new drugs of abuse are more effective if written in a matter-of-fact tone rather than in a tone of dread horror.