Green Country Man Speaks About Synthetic Marijuana Addiction

It may be known as "K2," but one Green Country user calls it poison.

He's addicted to the synthetic drug and admits it's ruined his life, but he doesn't think he can stop.

Kinney started smoking K2 when he was 16 years old.

Now, he's 20 and he said he feels like he's lost the last four years of his life.

"It ruined my jobs. Every job I've ever had, it ruined it. It ruined my credit with my whole family. I'm in debt—total debt," Kinney said.

Kinney didn't want to talk on camera and asked that we not use his full name. He admitted he's smoked K2 off and on for four years.

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"You basically black out if you smoke enough," he said. "It's an out-of-body experience."

For at least a year during that span, he smoked synthetic marijuana every day, spending $30 each time.

"You are buying it from the store, so you think it's innocent. But it's actually very hard," Kinney said.

K2 made Kinney violent, sleepless and killed his appetite. He said when he tries to quit, the withdrawals are too painful.

"I've been in the smoke shop parking lot throwing up all over my truck and then going and buying it and I'm fine afterwards," Kinney said.

When Kinney's parents put him in rehab, he suffered a grand mal seizure during detox, dislocating his jaw in two places. After 28 days in rehab, he went straight to the smoke shop when he got out.

He said it's just so easy to get.

"Make them quit selling it, because that's the only thing that's going to stop me, is if it's gone," Kinney said.

He said he pawned all of his belongings and some of his parents' things to feed his addiction. He said he's ruined every relationship he valued.

"I miss my son," said Kinney's mom, Sandi Dirickson.

Dirickson said she wants to warn parents and send a message to shops that sell synthetic drugs.

"I want the people who put it on their shelves to know what they are doing to our children," Dirickson said.

She says her child has secluded himself into this addiction.

"I honestly don't know what to do anymore," Dirickson said.

Kinney broke into a shop and stole $11,000 worth of K2. He got caught and he's on probation for a year.

He said he wants to quit, but he doesn't know if he's strong enough to stay away from it.