scholarly journals Sales and Advertising Channels of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): Internet, Social Networks, and Smartphone Apps

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Miliano ◽  
Giulia Margiani ◽  
Liana Fattore ◽  
Maria De Luca
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Drug Market ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short And Long Term

In the last decade, the trend of drug consumption has completely changed, and several new psychoactive substances (NPS) have appeared on the drug market as legal alternatives to common drugs of abuse. Designed to reproduce the effects of illegal substances like cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, or ketamine, NPS are only in part controlled by UN conventions and represent an emerging threat to global public health. The effects of NPS greatly differ from drug to drug and relatively scarce information is available at present about their pharmacology and potential toxic effects. Yet, compared to more traditional drugs, more dangerous short- and long-term effects have been associated with their use, and hospitalizations and fatal intoxications have also been reported after NPS use. In the era of cyberculture, the Internet acts as an ideal platform to promote and market these compounds, leading to a global phenomenon. Hidden by several aliases, these substances are sold across the web, and information about consumption is shared by online communities through drug fora, YouTube channels, social networks, and smartphone applications (apps). This review intends to provide an overview and analysis of social media that contribute to the popularity of NPS especially among young people. The possibility of using the same channels responsible for their growing diffusion to make users aware of the risks associated with NPS use is proposed.

Tackling Drug-Lords in a Nascent Market: Raids and Drug Crime in Uruguay

2021 ◽  
pp. 088740342110469
Author(s):  
Juan A. Bogliaccini ◽  
Diego Pereira ◽  
Juan Ignacio Pereira ◽  
Cecilia Giambruno ◽  
Ignacio Borba
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Drug Market ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Drug Crime ◽  
Intervention Models ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Short And Long Term

This article analyzes the effects of police raids for different types of crime in the most conflictive neighborhoods of Montevideo, Uruguay. Interrupted time-series and intervention models are estimated using different specifications of geographical area where the crackdowns occurred and also different control strategies to produce robust results. The effect of crackdowns on crime reporting is mixed; evidence suggesting crackdowns may produce short- and long-term effects on crime depending on their ability to affect gangs’ competition for the territory and the market. It appears that the effects of raids are sensitive to the context of the criminal situation. Crackdowns are not consistently effective in influencing crime. Evidence shows it is hard to reach levels of critical enforcement through 1-day crackdowns and that crackdowns’ ability to alter drug-market conditions would depend not only on the ability to extract drug dealers from the territory but also in preventing a rapid return.

scholarly journals Novel Psychoactive Phenethylamines: Impact on Genetic Material

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 9616
Author(s):  
Veronica Cocchi ◽  
Sofia Gasperini ◽  
Patrizia Hrelia ◽  
Micaela Tirri ◽  
Matteo Marti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Material ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Genetic Damage ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Flow Cytometric ◽  
The Family ◽  
Tk6 Cells

Psychedelic and stimulating phenethylamines belong to the family of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The acute toxicity framework has begun to be investigated, while studies showing genotoxic potential are very limited or not available. Therefore, in order to fill this gap, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the genotoxicity by treating TK6 cells with 2C-H, 2C-I, 2C-B, 25B-NBOMe, and the popular 3,4-Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA). On the basis of cytotoxicity and cytostasis results, we selected the concentrations (6.25–35 µM) to be used in genotoxicity analysis. We used the micronucleus (MN) as indicator of genetic damage and analyzed the MNi frequency fold increase by an automated flow cytometric protocol. All substances, except MDMA, resulted genotoxic; therefore, we evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction as a possible mechanism at the basis of the demonstrated genotoxicity. The obtained results showed a statistically significant increase in ROS levels for all genotoxic phenethylamines confirming this hypothesis. Our results highlight the importance of genotoxicity evaluation for a complete assessment of the risk associated also with NPS exposure. Indeed, the subjects who do not have hazardous behaviors or require hospitalization by using active but still “safe” doses could run into genotoxicity and in the well-known long-term effects associated.

Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation Reduced Tire Pressure Initiative

1997 ◽  
Vol 1589 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Davies ◽  
Tami F. Wall ◽  
Allan Carpentier
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Vehicle Stability ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Tire Pressure ◽  
Reduced Pressure ◽  
Maintenance Costs ◽  
Short And Long Term

After examination of the research carried out by other agencies, Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation (SHT) embarked on an initiative to adapt low tire pressure technologies to the province's needs and environment. The focus of the initiative was to explore several technical questions from SHT's perspective: (a) Can low tire pressures be used to increase truck weights from secondary to primary without increasing road maintenance costs on thin membrane surface roads? (b) What are the short- and long-term effects of tire heating under high-speed/high-deflection constant reduced pressure (CRP) operations in a Saskatchewan environment? (c) What effects do lower tire pressures have on vehicle stability at highway speeds? To date, significant opportunities have been noted on local hauls (less than 30 min loaded at highway speeds) for CRP operation and long primary highway hauls that begin or end in relatively short secondary highway sections that limit vehicle weight allowed for the whole trip for central tire inflation technology. The background and environment for the initiative and the investigations and demonstrations envisioned and undertaken are briefly outlined.

The Neurobiology of Pain

2019 ◽  
pp. 387-414
Author(s):  
Maria Fitzgerald ◽  
Michael W. Salter
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Pain Pathways ◽  
Developmental Age ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Age And Sex

The influence of development and sex on pain perception has long been recognized but only recently has it become clear that this is due to specific differences in underlying pain neurobiology. This chapter summarizes the evidence for mechanistic differences in male and female pain biology and for functional changes in pain pathways through infancy, adolescence, and adulthood. It describes how both developmental age and sex determine peripheral nociception, spinal and brainstem processing, brain networks, and neuroimmune pathways in pain. Finally, the chapter discusses emerging evidence for interactions between sex and development and the importance of sex in the short- and long-term effects of early life pain.

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