Development of legal highs

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 128-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Wasunna ◽  
Emily Thomas ◽  
Sally Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Effect ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Drug Control ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Legal Highs ◽  
Controlled Drugs ◽  
Research Chemicals ◽  
Herbal Highs

AbstractNew psychoactive substances (NPS) or ‘legal highs’ are defined as unregulated psychoactive substances including synthetic and/or plant derived substances (marketed as research chemicals, party pills and herbal highs) that are intended to mimic the effects of controlled drugs. Psychiatric services around the country are seeing a rise in the use of NPS complicating mental health presentations. The challenge surrounding these substances is the fact that they are not under the international drug control system and are proving to have a detrimental health effect on users. This article reviews the current literature on this subject and discusses some of the most common examples of NPS and their potential effects on mental health.

MT-45: A new, dangerous legal high

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Coppola, MD ◽  
Raffaella Mondola, MD
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Legal Highs ◽  
Smart Drugs ◽  
Research Chemicals ◽  
Medical Emergencies ◽  
Legal High

Epidemiological data confirm that the use of new psychoactive substances is on the rise around the world.1 Numerous reports have described medical emergencies associated with the consumption of unconventional drugs of misuse bought in “head” or “smart” shops or online.1 New psychoactive substances, also referred as “legal highs,” “smart drugs,” or “research chemicals,” are a large group of both plant derivatives and synthetic compounds, also in combination, purposefully designed as legal alternatives to illicit substances of abuse. The most popular and widely-spread new psychoactive substances are synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones, however, various different compounds such as amphetamine-like molecules, arylcyclohexylamines, synthetic hallucinogens, prescription drugs and hormones have been found in recreational products marketed as legal highs.1

scholarly journals Pharmacotherapy of Patients Taking New Psychoactive Substances: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Case Reports

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Ordak ◽  
Aleksandra Zmysłowska ◽  
Miłosz Bielski ◽  
Daniel Rybak ◽  
Maja Tomaszewska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Reports ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Muscle Relaxants ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychomotor Agitation ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The World ◽  
Research Chemicals ◽  
Herbal Highs

Background: In recent years, an increase in the frequency of hospitalizations of patients taking newer and newer psychoactive substances has been observed around the world. Each year, authors publish case reports of patients who consumed previously unknown NPS. Most publications of this type concern the period between 2014 and 2016. However, no publication systematically reviews the pharmacotherapy used in these cases. This study aims to review the case reports of patients taking NPS published between 2010 and 2019, as well as analyzing the pharmacotherapy used.Methods: We searched the Thomson (Web of Knowledge), PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The search was performed using all possible combinations of the term “case report” describing the use of NPS, also referred to as designer medications, internet medications, research chemicals and herbal highs.Results: We analyzed 51 case reports on the intake of various types of NPS. Most of them (p < 0.001) concerned the use of synthetic cannabinoids (41.2%) and cathinones (31.4%). The pharmacotherapy applied primarily (p < 0.001) consisted of administering benzodiazepines to patients (62.7%), most of whom took only this group of medications (25.5%), followed by groups receiving benzodiazepines combined with neuroleptics (15.7%) and muscle relaxants (11.8%). Opioids were administered primarily to patients taking synthetic opioids (p < 0.001). Of the 5 cases of deaths from NPS reported in the literature, three relate specifically to the synthetic opioid MT-45. The later the time period, the more medications patients were administered (p = 0.02).Conclusion: In the pharmacotherapy for NPS poisoning, one should focus primarily on combating psychomotor agitation.

Legal highs offer lessons for global drug control

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
War On Drugs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Drug Control ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Legal Highs ◽  
Narcotic Drug ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Indicators

Subject Legal highs. Significance The international narcotic drug control system is facing pressure for reform, as global indicators demonstrate negligible progress in the ‘war on drugs’ and significant harm caused by criminalisation. Initially established over a century ago, the system is under scrutiny for its inability to anticipate and respond to innovation in the illicit drug trade. New psychoactive substances (NPS) or ‘legal highs’ epitomise the challenges faced internationally. Impacts Continual ad hoc tweaking of NPS to circumvent legal regulations will make such substances increasingly dangerous. With no geographical constraints on NPS manufacture, state crackdown efforts will merely shift production elsewhere. Differences in drug stances could foster wider tensions between neighbours such as Mexico and the United States.

scholarly journals The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in young people and their role in mental health care: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1253-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Orsolini ◽  
Stefania Chiappini ◽  
John M. Corkery ◽  
Amira Guirguis ◽  
Duccio Papanti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances

scholarly journals Drug policy reform – the opportunity presented by ‘legal highs'

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 249-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baroness Molly C. Meacher
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Policy Reform ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Legal Highs ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Drug Policy Reform

SummaryCurrent UK policy on drugs does little to reduce the potential harms to young people using drugs and in some ways can exacerbate them. The dramatic increase in the number of new psychoactive substances available in the UK carries the risk of increasing those harms and demands a new approach to drug regulation. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform calls for an independent drugs classification body, the introduction of a new category for psychoactive substances whereby their supply can be regulated and a review of the government lead for drugs to ensure a health focus. The Group's proposal and supporting evidence are set out in full.

The synthetic cannabinoids: JWH, four years of analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S115-S116 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Galindo ◽  
M. Grifell ◽  
P. Quintana ◽  
A. Palma ◽  
J. Tirado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Legal Highs ◽  
Energy Control ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Herbal Mixtures

IntroductionSince 2004, herbal mixtures for smoking use have been sold under the generic brand “Spice”. Many of them contain synthetic cannabinoids (agonists of the cannabinoid receptors). JWH-018 was one of the first spice drugs. There is no scientific evidence of their effects on humans, except cases of intoxications and users opinions.ObjectiveThe present study describes the presence of the synthetic cannabinoids JWH's and their characteristics in the samples delivered for analysis to the harm reduction NGO Energy Control from 2010 to 2014 in Spain.MethodsFrom 15,814 samples analyzed from 2010 to 2014, those containing synthetic cannabinoids JWH's were studied (n = 47). Analysis was done by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.ResultsFrom these 47 samples containing JWH, 55% were delivered as “legal highs” (n = 21) and 44% as JWH. Most common presentations were powder 47% and herbals 32%. Samples containing JWH 45%(n = 21) were mixed with more than one kind of JWH or were adulterated and other active principles were found 28% (n = 13) JWH-018, 11% (n = 5) JWH-210, 8% (n = 4) JWH-081 and the 6% WH-250 (n = 3). Origin of the sample was Catalunya 23% (n = 11), other provinces of Spain 46% (n = 22); other EU countries 23% (n = 11) and internet-unknown country 8% (n = 8). From the (n = 47) samples, were delivered (n = 16) in 2012, (n = 12) in 2013, (n = 11) in 2011, (n = 3) in 2010 and (n = 3) in 2014.ConclusionJWH'S represent a low percentage of new psychoactive substances analyzed. Its presence in the market seems decreasing.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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