Parent Alert: What are Shatter, Dabs and BHO?

"Scariest was the case of a young woman  who was hospitalized from a near-fatal allergic reaction  in which her throat closed up after smoking dabs."   -Animal New York ("Dabs: The World's Most Powerful and Sought After Weed Product)   What is "dabs?"    Dabs, otherwise known as butane hash oil (BHO), is an extremely potent extract created by passing butane through high-grade marijuana. Following the evaporation of the butane, a thick oil or resin remains.  The oil is most commonly vaporized using a special water pipe known as a rig, although it can be consumed orally as well.  Hash oil use has recently increased and is quickly becoming a more popular method of use among adolescents.      The resulting high is far stronger than that from marijuana, due to hash oil's very high levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).  While very strong strains of marijuana are around 25% THC, the 2009 United Nations "World Drug Report" states that hash oil can contain upwards of 60% THC.  Additional reports suggest that the THC content of hash oil can reach as high as 90%.   Even more concerning is the fact that butane, an extremely flammable and dangerous solvent, is used in the creation of butane hash oil.  A number of people have been injured in fires and explosions resulting from attempts to manufacture butane hash oil.  Additionally, there is risk of the final product having dangerous impurities due to the extraction methods and ingredients used.  Exposure to butane can cause numerous health problems, including neurotoxic effects.   It is crucial for parents to be aware of the increase in popularity of hash oil, and know what to look for.  Due to its concentrated form, hash oil is used in smaller amounts than marijuana and is much easier to conceal.  Hash oil can appear in various forms, be referred to by a number of different slang terms, and be manufactured using a variety of items.       Names: Hash oil, hashish oil, butane hash oil (BHO), honey oil, honey, honeycomb, dabs, earwax, wax, shatter, budder, concentrate, whip Looks Like: Dark brown, amber, or golden oil or resin, pale or yellowish wax, tar, honey or honeycomb        Related Items to Look For: Butane containers, glass or metal tubes, glass baking dishes, isopropyl alcohol, coffee filters       "Among incidents related to its production and use  were untrained cooks 'blowing themselves up' blasting  butane in jury-rigged home labs, and 'overdoses,' which as  with strong marijuana are not fatal but involve extreme discomfort  to the point of freaking out for long periods of time."   -Animal New York ("Dabs: The World's Most Powerful and Sought After Weed Product)      For more information on drugs of abuse, and the many other challenges that young people face every day, visit our Youth Challenges page. Courtesy of NotMyKid