Synthetic Drugs

 

 

The US Controlled Substances Act of 1970 was passed in effort to deal with the recreational abuse of drugs, which had their origins in medicine. This Act classified specific substances according to abuse and health risk potential. It also established the DEA as the authority to enforce these regulations. This marked the beginning of the War on Drugs.

While there was some success in controlling more traditional drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, heroine, and amphetamines, the Act only regulated the specific substances named in it. This left the vest majority of chemical compounds unregulated. An opportunity emerged in the recreational drug market to develop new substances that were not on the Controlled Substance List. This opportunity started to come to fruition with club drugs in the 1990s. These drugs included:

• GHB, more commonly known as the date rape drug, interferes with cognition and memory, and renders its victim helpless but relatively mobile. GHB was added as a Schedule I Controlled Substance in 2000, by the passage of the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act.

Ketamine is an anesthetic drug with dissociative properties that was discovered in 1962. While it was approved for human use and given to soldiers during the Vietnam War, it is now used primarily in veterinary medicine and research. At recreational doses, ketamine causes sedation and hallucinations, and at high doses, it can cause out-of-body experiences. Ketamine was added as a Schedule III controlled substance in 1999.

Alkyl or amyl nitrates, also known recreationally as poppers, where first discovered in 1844 by a French chemist and later found to be useful in the treatment of angina. Recreationally, poppers induce euphoria as well as relax smooth muscle tissue. Alkyl nitrates were popular in the 1970s as sex drugs – drugs that were used to enhance sexual experiences. They are now a controlled prescription medication.

As these substances became banned or regulated by various government agencies, new substances that have not yet been regulated take their place. Synthetic cannabis, bath salts, and alpha-PVP or flakka have seen surges in popularity since the new millennium, and until recently, they were also not regulated by the US government. An examination of these three provides some good examples of modern synthetic drugs.

 

 

 
Synthetic cannabinoids started to gain popularity in the early 2000s. They are usually marketed as a legal alternative to cannabis. Although sometimes they are marketed as “incense” and labeled “not for human consumption,” in order to circumvent regulation by the FDA. These synthetic cannabinoids are usually also marketed as “organic”; however, these claims are misleading. While the product often consists mainly of plant matter, the actual psychoactive ingredient is a synthetic designer drug. This is sprayed on the plant matter to infuse it with synthetic cannabinoids; it is then packaged for sale. Synthetic cannabinoids are sold under names like Spice and K2.

Synthetic cannabinoids mimic the effects of organic cannabinoids like THC. They produce some of the same effects as marijuana, because they attach to the same receptors. Per NIDA, some synthetic cannabinoids may bond to the receptors more strongly than organic cannabinoids. This is likely why they produce some effects that are different from organic cannabis.

Synthetic cannabinoids can be just as addictive as organic cannabis. While more people used traditional marijuana than synthetic weed, synthetic cannabinoids are growing in popularity.  While the synthetic version produces many of the same effects as marijuana, it is more unpredictable due to its man-made status, and it can lead to serious health effects. Oftentimes, synthetic marijuana is mixed with other ingredients, so users never know what they are truly getting when they purchase it.

Generally, people report the following effects from synthetic cannabinoids:

 

Some of the withdrawal symptoms of synthetic cannabinoids mimic the symptoms of organic cannabis withdrawal, but they may be more severe:

Previously, these synthetic cannabinoids had not been regulated, but the federal government and certain state governments are taking steps to ban synthetic cannabinoids. The difficulty lies in trying to stay one step ahead of synthetic drug manufacturers. Per a 2013 article in The Atlantic, synthetic drugs are “multiplying” too quickly for lawmakers; they simply can’t outlaw the new drugs quickly enough.

At least one person has died from an overdose on synthetic cannabis. US health agencies are investigating other cases and believe it is very likely that synthetic cannabis has played a role in other lethal overdose cases, even if it was not a direct cause.

At this time, there are no clinically tested treatments for synthetic cannabinoid addiction. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and community-based support groups to those struggling with synthetic cannabis addiction. Those suffering from longstanding or severe addictions to any synthetic drugs will be best served in an inpatient addiction treatment program that includes medical detox and comprehensive therapy.

 

 

Bath salts exploded in the American media in May 2012 when a Miami homeless man viciously assaulted another homeless man, per ABC News. While initial reports stated the man was high on bath salts when he attacked the other man’s face, this was later found to be false. Still, this news report introduced bath salts to many who didn’t know about the drug.

Bath salts get their name from their powder or crystallized form; they appear similar to Epsom salts. Like synthetic cannabinoids, bath salts are sometimes labeled erroneously, with packaging that says “not for human consumption.” Again, this labeling is an effort to evade drug regulation laws.

The active ingredient in most bath salts is a synthetic cathinone, similar to an amphetamine. The natural version of this substance is found in the khat shrub that grows in southern Arabia and East Africa, where it is chewed as a natural stimulant. This chemical was isolated in the 1920s but didn’t gain popularity in the US until recently.

Synthetic cathinones affect the body similarly to how cocaine and other stimulants do. A recent study of the synthetic cathinone 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) indicated that the effect was 10 times stronger than cocaine. Common effects of bath salts use include:

People under the effects of bath salts can be extremely dangerous. If you see someone you believe to be on bath salts, you should get to a safe place and call the authorities. In 2012, the federal government passed legislation to add bath salts to the banned substances list. Several states have banned the drug along with compounds similar to it. This is important because similar compounds can activate the same neuroreceptor sites in the brain, and thus have similar effects.

Like synthetic cannabinoids, there are not specific medications designed to treat bath salt addiction. Medical detox and therapy, such as CBT, are recommended by NIDA to treat addiction in general, and this kind of care is appropriate for bath salt addiction.

 

 
Molly is a newer form of ecstasy, made from MDMA, that is often reported to be a “purer” form of ecstasy. This, however, is not true. Per NIDA, Molly tablets often contain various other substances other than MDMA. The pills may be cut with caffeine, cocaine, and synthetic cathinones, among other substances. As a result, users don’t really know what they are taking when they purchase Molly.

The drug acts similarly to ecstasy, often producing feelings of intense wellbeing and euphoria. Its effects usually last 3-6 hours, and users often report feelings of “closeness” with others. It is commonly referred to, like ecstasy, as the “love drug.” These feelings often promote sexual contact amongst users, and oftentimes, use of Molly leads to unsafe sex practices, thereby unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are potential risks of use.

Like ecstasy, Molly carries a variety of health risks with its use, including:

Oftentimes, use of Molly is followed by a sharp crash, in which users experience insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Users may take Molly again in an effort to avoid this crash. As a result, many use the drug in a binge pattern.

As with other synthetic drugs, addiction treatment is recommended for chronic users. Treatment plans generally include medical detox and therapy.

 

 
Alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, or alpha-PVP, was discovered in China during the 1960s. It is similar in composition to bath salts, belonging to the same class of cathinones that produces stimulant-like effects. It is sold under the name flakka or gravel. In 2014, the DEA added alpha-PVP and nine other cathinones to the Schedule I classification.

Its symptoms are very similar to those found with traditional stimulants:

Some people report cravings when they take alpha-PVP, similar to the cravings experienced with cocaine use. While research on alpha-PVP is limited, it likely has a high addictive potential. At high doses, aggressive behavior and dangerous cardiac complications become a concern.

There are no specific treatment options for people who are addicted to alpha-PVP. General addiction treatment methods are applicable.