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Military

Did Spice Trigger Sailor's Suicide?

Ruth Rivas with a photo of her son Adam Hernandez
spiceisnotnice.org
Ruth Rivas with a photo of her son Adam Hernandez

The mother of a Sailor whose suicide may have been triggered by Spice use has started a campaign to bring awareness about the dangers of the designer drug.

Ruth M. Rivas told the El Paso Times her son Adam Hernandez had hopes for the future before he started using Spice:

"Adam loved to live. I know Adam wouldn't have done this on his own. He was always reading books and giving advice to people. He always wanted to help people. This is my way of making sure he is still helping other people. I'm making sure that Adam didn't die in vain."

Rivas' son's body was found on a soccer field at his base in Hawaii. Spice was found in his living quarters. Rivas wants to make sure other mothers don't suffer the kind of loss as she, and has started a Spice awareness website called "Spice is not nice."

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Spice is a synthetic form of marijuana that can cause side effects like hallucinations, paranoia, and even psychosis.

The Navy banned Sailors from using Spice in 2010.

In 2011, more than 1,500 Sailors were discharged from the Navy for using or distributing Spice.

As Home Post reported last month, 16 Sailors from the San Diego-based USS New Orleans were busted for Spice use and kicked out of the Navy in September.